Pierce County leads the United States in rhubarb production, raising about 50 percent of the nation's supply. The Puyallup Valley's farmers also lead the state in producing lettuce, cabbage, radishes and green onions. The county leads the state some years in pumpkin productions, and Pierce is second in tulips and daffodils.

The value of the 80 agricultural crops, livestock and livestock products is $80 million, which ranks 14th among the state's 39 counties. However, the county's agricultural base continues to shrink as farmers and farmland is lost to the urbanization process. Pierce County lost 18,000 acres of farmland between 1982 and 1997.