Historically, Milpitas was a highly productive agricultural region known for its sprawling apricot, walnut, cherry, and pear orchards, as well as vast fields of peas and asparagus. During the first half of the 20th century, farming was the backbone of the local economy.
Today, commercial agriculture has been almost entirely replaced by urban, suburban, and industrial development. The only remnants of the city's agricultural past are a few preserved historic sites (like the Alviso Adobe) and seasonal cattle grazing that takes place in the rolling eastern foothills of the Diablo Range to manage wildfire risks.