Economy
The principal industries of Santa Cruz are agriculture, tourism, education (UCSC) and high technology.
Santa Cruz is a center of the organic agriculture movement, and many specialty products as well as housing the headquarters of California Certified Organic Farmers.
Tourist attractions include the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the beach, the redwood forests, and Monterey Bay, which is protected as a marine sanctuary.
Top employers
According to Santa Cruz's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
| Employer | of Employees | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Santa Cruz | 4,679 |
| 2 | County of Santa Cruz | 2,497 |
| 3 | City of Santa Cruz | 1,108 |
| 4 | Plantronics | 518 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | 347 |
| 6 | Costco | 255 |
| 7 | Community Bridges | 250 |
| 8 | Crow's Nest | 199 |
| 9 | Santa Cruz Biotechnology | 190 |
| 10 | United Parcel Service | 155 |
