Agriculture is the largest industry in the county and represents more than 21 percent of all employment. The industry experienced a slight decline in 2001 but has regained more than 800 new jobs in 2002. The agriculture industry is primarily centered in the Salinas Valley, and in Monterey County is a 2.3 billion-dollar agriculture industry. Due to its temperate, Mediterranean-like climate and fertile soils, the county has become the number one vegetable-producing region in the nation. The area supplies 80 percent of the nation’s lettuces and nearly the same percentage of artichokes. Broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, strawberries, peppers, squash, carrots, asparagus, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, garlic, onions and flowers are also grown in abundance. In addition, Monterey County has become one of the largest premium grape growing regions in California, with over 40,000 acres of wine grapes. Local growers and shippers lead the industry in all phases of crop growth including seed technology, planting and irrigation, harvesting and marketing. Pre-packaged salads and precut fresh vegetables were created in the Salinas Valley, and this innovation has changed the way consumers buy vegetables. These expanding technologies are being recognized and imitated by farmers around the world. Over 500 million pounds of produce is exported from Monterey County, annually.