By California Avocado Commission
IRVINE, Calif. – Despite some consumer media stories stating that California had a short avocado crop in 2016, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) reported that last year’s harvest was above average in volume at 401.4 million pounds. It also delivered the third highest California avocado crop value on record. However, for 2017 a smaller California avocado volume forecast will mean a tighter window for supply and shipments.
“The California avocado harvest for 2017 is projected to be around 225 million pounds, and sizing of the fruit on the trees is looking very good now,” said Rick Shade, California Avocado Commission chairman. “CAC representatives and I have been out in groves in the various California avocado growing regions, and early sampling of the crop confirms the quality should be excellent this year.”
Shade has plenty of experience to be a good judge of avocado quality. A California avocado grower for more than 35 years, he learned the business from his grandfather. Shade served as CAC chairman of from late 2007 to late 2009, and was elected chairman again in November 2016. He explained that California avocados are an alternate bearing crop. Often, but not always, a larger crop one year is followed by a smaller crop the next season, which seems to be the case for 2017. Other factors contributing to a smaller 2017 California avocado crop estimate are weather-related events from 2016, and vary by region.
“The recent rains in California are good for this year’s crop as well as for next year’s,” said Shade. “We’re evaluating what the rain will mean in terms of harvest timing. While some California avocados are already in distribution in a few local chains, in general it looks like a ramp up of harvesting in mid to late spring.”
About the California Avocado Commission
Created in 1978, the California Avocado Commission strives to increase demand for California avocados through advertising, promotion and public relations, and engages in related industry activities that benefit the state’s nearly 4,000 avocado growers. The California Avocado Commission serves as the official information source for California avocados and the California avocado industry.
Southern California citrus – grossing about $5300 to New York City.