Calexico highlight
Imperial Valley agriculture
The Imperial Valley produces annual crops valued at over one billion dollars, including lettuce, alfalfa, and sugar beets, supported by irrigation from the Colorado River.
The Imperial Valley stretches 50 miles southeast of the Salton Sea toward Mexico, across Imperial and Riverside counties. It sits almost entirely below sea level: the Salton Sea sits 235 feet below sea level at its deepest point. Despite this challenging geography and a climate of extreme heat and minimal rainfall, the valley has become one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, producing nearly two-thirds of the vegetables Americans consume during winter months.
The valley's agricultural success depends entirely on irrigation from the Colorado River, conveyed through the All-American Canal and operated by the Imperial Irrigation District. Water from the canal flows across 600,000 acres of farmland, supporting production of lettuce, alfalfa, sugar beets, carrots, cotton, and grain. The crops generated by this system have an annual value exceeding one billion dollars and employ roughly 48 percent of the county's workforce, making agriculture the dominant industry in the region.
For the families that work in Imperial Valley agriculture, whether as farmers, equipment operators, or in processing and packing facilities, life insurance is a practical foundation for their economic security. A term policy matched to the income that runs the household or farm, and to the years until children reach independence or a business transition is planned, ensures that land, equipment and family remain protected through the seasons ahead.