California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The primary crop cultivated by the missions in California was olives. This is significant because the Spanish missions, established in the 18th and 19th centuries, aimed to promote agriculture and self-sufficiency among the indigenous population while also supporting the mission’s sustenance. Olives were particularly well-suited to the Mediterranean climate of California, which is similar to the regions in Spain where olive cultivation thrived.

In addition to olives, the missions did grow other crops, but the cultivation of wheat and corn was more aligned with the agricultural practices of the region before the missions were established. Bananas and rice were not commonly cultivated at the missions, reflecting the limited agricultural diversity in terms of what was promoted by the early Spanish settlers. This context highlights that olives were indeed a hallmark of the mission system’s agricultural efforts, making it the correct answer.