Ventura County is a global

agricultural powerhouse, producing more than 1.5 billion dollars’ worth of crops annually. Growers in this part of Southern California ship lemons to Japan and truck fresh strawberries to Manhattan. They raise nursery stock, oranges and avocados, peppers, field greens and celery — more than 100 crops in all, from artichokes to zucchini.

Ventura County growers also confront the demands of a changing economy and the pressures of urban growth. They farm on the city’s edge, hoping to preserve their way of life even as global economic forces, suburban development and political indifference threaten to undermine it.

Finally, there’s a book that tells the story of this remarkable industry in lyrical prose and striking pictures. Titled Living Legacy: The Story of Ventura County Agriculture, it concentrates on the day-to-day practices of modern farming in coastal Southern California’s last great agricultural landscape. It also tells the stories of some of the individuals — from immigrant laborers to fourth-generation farm owners — who keep this tradition alive. And it’s on sale now!