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As anyone might guess when driving into San Benito County from any direction, the county’s primary economic engine appears to be farming and ranching. Manufacturing, however, consistently employs more workers year round, though most of it is related to agriculture in the form of fresh produce packaging.
Under the banner of agriculture, farming and ranching represent the majority of local land use and millions in annual crop value, according to the 2022-2027 San Benito County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and the San Benito County General Plan Agricultural Element.
Agriculture and ag-related manufacturing employers, such as Taylor Farms, George Chiala Farms and B&R Farms, which grow and package specialty crops, continue to play strong roles in San Benito’s economy even as retail provides steady employment opportunities and supports household consumption, particularly in Hollister, where most of the county’s larger stores are concentrated. The mix of national chains and regional grocers reflects both the county’s growing consumer base and its reliance on accessible retail services.
Ag has always been a cornerstone of San Benito County’s economy. In recent decades a limited number of manufacturers in diverse fields, such as explosive devices, tile, and motorcycle parts have established more of a foothold in the county. But food processing continues to be the dominant employer, as retail continues to attempt to gain more of a presence.
“There are more than 1,000 agricultural producers operating farms here, and about one-third of farms hire farm labor, supporting many seasonal and year-round jobs,” San Benito County Farm Bureau executive director Brittany Brown told BenitoLink. “Vegetables and row crops are the largest part of our agricultural economy, especially spinach, romaine lettuce, and other salad mixes followed by wine grapes, forage and hay, and smaller amounts of nursery and livestock production. In fact, more than 30,000 acres of vegetables are harvested in the county, showing just how important farming is to our local landscape and economy.
“The employment impact shows up very clearly in the cities,” she added. “In Hollister, many farm owners, managers, and agricultural support businesses are based nearby, including equipment suppliers, packing and processing facilities, trucking companies and service providers. Farm income flows directly into local housing, restaurants, shops and services, helping keep our local economy strong.”
She pointed out that in San Juan Bautista, agriculture supports vineyards, wineries, agritourism and farm-to-table experiences. Visitors drawn to wineries and local farms often spend time and money at local restaurants, shops and lodging, helping to sustain the historic downtown and small businesses.
“Even if you’ve never worked on a farm, agriculture touches what we eat, where we work and how our communities thrive,” she said. “It’s a foundational part of who we are as a county sometimes quietly, but always significantly.”
They specialize in pasture‑raised beef and direct‑to‑consumer steer sales. Photo by John Chadwell.
Big ranches
Beyond the city limits, few residents would know that there are 539 farms and ranches that average 1,010 acres each. Crops cover just 48,007 acres, while pasturelands number 452,202 acres, primarily to raise cattle.
Ranches in San Benito County are typically large, family-owned operations that have been passed down for generations. Cattle represented $34 million in sales in 2024, along with other livestock and poultry that generated $3.8 million in revenues. Many of the ranches are involved in conservation easements to protect rangeland from development while maintaining cattle grazing. While the Department of Agriculture does not list a specific number of ranches in the county, a few have been documented in local reporting or have active websites.
- Sans Topo Ranch – A 4,500-acre cattle ranch south of Hollister, conserved in 2023 by the California Rangeland Trust. It remains a working cattle operation.
- Paicines Ranch – A historic ranch covering 7,600 acres near Tres Pinos that was originally part of the Rancho Quién Sabe Spanish land grant. It’s known for regenerative grazing practices, ecological restoration projects, and frequently cited in conservation and agricultural journals.
- Flint Hills Ranches & other family holdings – Several multi-generational ranches operating in San Benito County, most exceeding 1,000 acres.
- Rancho Quién Sabe – Near Tres Pinos, was originally a Mexican land grant of 48,823 acres and is now about 26,570 acres. It’s a mixed-use ranch offering cattle operations, horseback riding, hunting and guest accommodations.
- Reinoso Peak Ranch – 1,855 acres, used for cattle and as a hunting ranch under a Williamson Act contract, which provides tax incentives for agricultural use.
Hollister hosts diverse industries and includes, according to the city website, tourism, food processing, high-tech, retail, and agriculture-related manufacturing.
Other sectors
Biotechnology and agricultural technology are also emerging sectors, with Teknova and local seed companies conducting research and development. These businesses employ hundreds of workers: food processing and ag-tech together account for an estimated 600 to 800 jobs, while biotech and seed research add another 200 to 300 positions.
Construction-related manufacturing tied to Hollister’s airport and business parks also contributes significantly, supporting 400 to 500 jobs.
“There’s an opportunity for all kinds of manufacturing, but will this community embrace that?” Supervisor Angela Curro asked rhetorically. Curro, who is on the National Ag and Rural Affairs Steering Committee, and works with USDA Rural Development, added, “That’s where we must be able to have that blunt conversation with the public.”
She said the area around the airport offers the best opportunity to place manufacturing and distribution businesses in order to help reduce the 66% of workers who commute daily out of the county.
As for any manufacturing possibilities, Curro said she believes those should primarily focus on food production, similar to Taylor Farms in San Juan Bautista, and possibly testing facilities that would study the use of drones and other technology for farmers.
Retail is a significant contributor to local employment, representing 12.3% of those age 16 and older, according to Statistical Atlas. Large retail employers in Hollister include Target, TJ Maxx, Safeway, and Knob Hill. These companies anchor the retail landscape alongside smaller grocers and specialty shops.
The retail and manufacturing sectors in Hollister and San Juan Bautista translate to about 2,562 jobs in retail and 4,731 jobs in manufacturing in Hollister; 100 in retail and 228 jobs in manufacturing in San Juan Bautista, according to City-Data.com.
In Hollister, major employers in manufacturing and production include Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials, which, according to Dun & Bradstreet, is a defense and aerospace manufacturer that employs 300 locally. It specializes in pyrotechnic and energetic material solutions.
American Casting Company, according to LinkedIn, employs 60 people and is involved in metal casting and mold production. Fireclay Tile employs 150 to 200 people in Aromas, and is involved in tile production and assembly of tiles.
Other major employers include Marich Confectionery, Royal Circuit Solutions, Graniterock, Willis Construction and Corbin Saddles.
Home of the American biker
Mike Corbin relocated his privately owned Corbin Saddles from Castroville in 1998. Corbin and motorcycles, and of course motorcycle seats, or saddles as they’re referred to in business, are marketed and sold around the world. Whenever someone buys a motorcycle, whether it is a Harley or Kawasaki, if it doesn’t already come with the Corbin logo on the saddle, the new “biker” will hunt one down.
Corbin has been a mainstay and consistent employer in Hollister, now with 75 employees.
“They’re high craftsman positions,” Mike Corbin said. “Things like seamstresses, assemblers, electricians, quality control, foam molding, and fiberglass guys.”
He said his main competition for skilled workers in the county is agriculture.
“When they’re busy, they pay good money, you know, but when they’re not busy, they don’t have any work, so, the advantage of working at Corbin is you got a year-round job, 40 hours a week,” he said. “With ag, you can make a little bit more money per day, but it’s only when they’re planting or harvesting,” he said.
He said he feels good about how he has had little turnover.
“Half of our people have been here over 20 years,” he said. “We’ve got three people right at 40 years. I’ve got guys that came out of high school to work here, and they’re getting close to 60 years old for retirement. It means a lot because motorcyclists all over the world know what Hollister is.”
Corbin products sell worldwide.
“We’re almost 90% direct retail,” Corbin said, “so we sell directly to the riders. And we have offices in Germany and Belgium, and we’ve had a building in Ormond Beach, Florida, since 1990,” he said. “I have importers that bring them into Europe and Asia.”
Despite recent tariffs, Corbin said his company and the motorcycle industry are doing well, which is good because “motorcycles are personal luxury items, as well as the saddles that go on them,” he said as he described the economic impact of the tariffs as “flesh wounds.”
“Some of our materials, like vinyl and petrochemicals, come up from offshore. But that hasn’t hurt us too much,” he said. “But motorcycle prices are going up because of the tariffs. Overall, we’ll get used to the tariffs. In a way, that isn’t the big problem. The big problem is the extra income in the economy has been slow last year and the year before.”
At a crossroads
For generations, families in San Benito County have built their lives around farming—orchards, vineyards, and ranches that define the landscape. Yet today, new opportunities are emerging in manufacturing plants, retail storefronts and production facilities, offering different kinds of livelihoods. As the county grows, the question becomes, how do these industries redefine what it means to prosper here?
The county stands at an economic crossroads. Agriculture, the traditional cornerstone, continues to anchor the region, but manufacturing, retail and production are rising as powerful forces in shaping growth. The interplay between these sectors will determine not only the county’s economic trajectory but also its identity in a rapidly changing California.
BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, San Benito County Farm Bureau , for helping expand the agriculture coverage around San Benito County. San Benito County Farm Bureau is state and national network of farmers. They are the largest agricultural organization dedicated to providing support to farmers and ranchers. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.
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