What Did Mission San Juan Capistrano Produce? Agriculture and Livestock

Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776 in present-day Orange County, California, was a thriving agricultural center. Its production sustained the mission community and supported trade:

Crops

• Grains: Wheat, corn (maize), barley
• Legumes: Beans, peas, lentils
• Fruits: Grapes (for wine and raisins), olives, figs, pomegranates, citrus
• Vegetables: Squash, melons, onions, garlic, peppers

Livestock

• Cattle: Large herds for meat, hides (leather), tallow (candles, soap), and draft animals
• Sheep: Wool for textiles, meat
• Horses and Mules: Transportation and labor
• Goats and Pigs: Supplementary meat and byproducts

Other Products

The mission also produced olive oil, wine, brandy, soap, candles, leather goods, and woven textiles. Its aqueduct system and irrigation works supported intensive farming in the semi-arid climate.

At its peak (early 1800s), the mission managed over 10,000 head of cattle and thousands of sheep, making it one of the most productive in the California mission chain.