Dahanu is lined with fruit orchards and is distinctively famous for its Chikoo fruit. Dahanu has been a home to a large number of Chikoo farmers for almost a century. Known as ‘sapodilla’ elsewhere in the world, Chikoo is one of the most interesting and desirable of all tropical fruit trees. The origin of sapodilla can be traced to Central America and is believed native to southern Mexico. The economy of Dahanu, Gholvad and Bordi survives on its sapodilla plantations as 7 out of 10 Chikoos of the country grow here. These Chikoos are dispatched by train to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Pune.

Also fruits like Coconut, Mango, Lychee, Guava, Grapefruit, Custard Apple, Love Apple, Ice-Apple (Tadgola) and Cashew nut are grown. This makes one wonder so much varieties can grow together.
Horticulture also has helped in other primary activities as a very good source of side-income viz. Plant Nurseries, Vermiculture, Vermicomposting and Ecotourism.

Dahanu’s rich marine belt and its inlet fishing sustains thousands of fishermen and has for ages sustained another age-old occupation of fishing. It also supports a sizable population of marginalized people who solely depend on salt manufacturing.

The entire coastal belt with its rich natural resources, creeks, wetlands, reefs, mangroves and river deltas forms a lucrative fishing area. The communities engaged in this occupation are Kolis, Mitnas and Mangelas. They are the masters of the sea and help in generating good revenue for the town by exporting tones of seafood each year. Dahanu has approx. 21 fishing hamlets and about 7 fish landing centres and has 3 kinds of fishing activities carried out viz. the deep sea, the brackish water and the inland.