The Salinas Valley in the Central Coast region of California lies along the Salinas River between the Gabilan Mountains and the Santa Lucia Range. (The Salinas River empties into the famed Monterey Bay.) It encompasses parts of Monterey County. Cities in the Salinas Valley include Aromas, Bradley, Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Greenfield, Hollister, Jolon , King City, Lockwood , Paicines , Prunedale, Salinas, San Ardo, San Juan Bautista, San Lucas, Soledad and Spreckels.
Agriculture dominates the economy of the valley. In particular, a large majority of the salad greens consumed in the US are grown here.
Most of the Salinas Valley is part of "Steinbeck Country", which also includes Monterey and other neighboring areas; John Steinbeck was born and raised in Salinas, and he had an up-and-down relationship with both the place and its inhabitants.
