WHAT’S A PAJARO?

      The Pajaro Valley's colorful history spans many thousands of years, having first been inhabited by the Costanoans, a hunter and gatherer Indian tribe. Remnants of their tribal campsites have been discovered on the Pajaro Dunes and along many coastal valley streambeds.

      The name of the valley reportedly comes from 18th century explorers who reported seeing a large straw-stuffed bird at one river's mouth and decided to name the river after the Indian symbol: Rio Del Pajaro, or River of the Bird.

      The mid-19th century gold rush in the Sierra Mountains brought dramatic changes.  Land came cheap, and the new settlers were the first to engage in large scale farming and ranching in the Monterey Bay Area.

      Watsonville was incorporated on March 30, 1868; deriving its name from Judge John Watson, who came to the valley in 1851.  Growth in the Pajaro Valley flourished as the Southern Pacific Railroad linked the area to the Santa Clara Valley in 1871.

      Today, agriculture and food processing remain the mainstay industries of the Pajaro Valley economic structure. Yet in keeping with recent trends, a new breadth of opportunity has opened for residents and businesses, including light industry, manufacturing, tourism and service oriented businesses. Watsonville is a rich agricultural community (the Pajaro Valley is one of the world's largest agricultural centers) famous for its strawberries, apples and cut flowers, and for its ethnic diversity.

      Nearly 70 percent of the population in Watsonville is Latino, making it the 21st largest Hispanic market in the United States. Watsonville is also a young town, with almost 34 percent of its population under 18 years of age. Watsonville is a full-service city with is own airport, landfill, wastewater treatment plant and water system.

Why is the Pajaro Valley an agricultural leader?

      Mild climate and diverse land types make nearly perfect growing conditions for more than 60 varieties of fruit and vegetables, including strawberries, apples, many types of bush berries, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli and artichokes.

      The marine beachlands to the north produce excellent Brussels sprouts, artichokes and fresh flowers. The eastern highlands are ideal for cattle grazing, timber production, orchards and vineyards. The mid-county coastal plain grows delicious strawberries, broccoli, mushrooms and flowers, and is home to several egg ranches.

How does the Pajaro Valley affect the agriculture industry?

      If the Pajaro Valley were a county, it would rank fifth in agricultural production in California, even though only 55,000 acres are devoted to agriculture and timber. The top five products grown commercially are strawberries, apples, fresh flowers, lettuce and bush berries.

      With a growing season of 245 days, innovative techniques and tools have put Pajaro Valley at the highest level of standards for crop production in the world. The locally invented Bug-Vac vacuums unwanted pests from crops.  As a result, fewer pesticides than ever before are being used in the Pajaro Valley area.

Quick Facts

• The Pajaro Valley produces 90 percent of Santa Cruz County's gross agricultural income.  Only 7.5 percent of the county's total land is used for farming, yet the area produces $197 million annually.
• About 815 local farms average 68 acres each.
• More than $280 million is spent on transporting fresh and processed farm crops from the Pajaro Valley to worldwide destinations.
• Santa Cruz County is first in the nation in Brussels sprouts and bush berry production.
• Over $100 million annually is paid to farm workers for planting, cultivation and harvesting crops.