"Formalized agriculture within the Ukiah Valley began in the 1850s. Efforts included the raising of livestock and the growing of various grains, predominantly hops. When the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was completed in 1889, prunes, potatoes, pears, and hops were sent from the Ukiah Valley to San Francisco and other regional markets. Hops, pears, prunes and grapes were the most widely planted crops in the 1950s, and today the Ukiah Valley is home to a number of productive agricultural activities, including organically produced crops and notable vineyards. The Valley’s rich bottom-land, resourced by the Russian River, consists of prime, fertile soils and benchlands highly productive for grapes. Presently, agricultural land within the region is mostly comprised of vineyards and pear orchards but also includes row crops and pasturelands. Agricultural production has been an important part of the regional economy for generations and will continue to be a foundational component for decades to come. In addition to the economic benefits, agricultural lands provide a pastoral quality that helps define the character of the Ukiah Valley."

From the City of Ukiah's DRAFT 2040 General Plan