By Thomas Hughes
Sonoma County leaders have solidified a plan to support the county’s struggling agriculture industry with a host of initiatives and land use changes declaring agricultural and working lands as critical infrastructure.
The county Board of Supervisors passed a resolution designating ag lands essential to the county’s economy, environment and food security, the Sonoma County Executive’s Office said in a statement.
A series of reforms outlined Tuesday at a Board of Supervisors meeting are intended to support the importance of that infrastructure — and its workforce of roughly 34,000. Some elements will be incorporated into the county’s update of its General Plan next year.
The initiatives aim to support the farm industry in multiple ways through such things as more flexibility in land use policies, investing in ag tourism, and expanding local food assistance programs.
Economic decline and industry pressures
Agriculture and related industries account for about 18% of the county’s economy.
Sonoma County produced about $857 million worth of agricultural goods in 2024, which was about a 9% decline from the previous year.
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