How CAC’s 2026 Season Marketing Results Inform FY27 Strategy
As the California Avocado Commission’s brand and retail media programs for the 2026 season wrap up, the results reflect the scale and impact of the work, including 161.7 million digital media impressions, 19.9 million social media views and 891,000 website visits. This year CAC’s marketing team tested new media partners, placements and formats – Instacart, for example – while continuing impactful programs that engage core California avocado consumers and drive preference and perceived value during the peak season.
More importantly, 2026 season performance will provide a stronger foundation for the coming year. The season’s results help CAC identify what resonates most with target consumers in various regions, where media can drive deeper engagement and purchase consideration, and where budgets can be strategically scaled or optimized. These insights are already informing early FY 2026-27 planning, with an eye toward continuing to evolve the media mix, expand reach to new audiences and build on the tactics and partnerships that delivered the strongest results.
California Avocados Reach New Shoppers Across Retailer Social Feeds This Summer
Northwest Grocers, an operational service organization that provides retail support to independent grocers, rolled out a social media pilot program this summer promoting fresh, in-season California avocados to its partner store network. Vashon Thriftway and Stadium Thriftway picked up CAC-provided content and videos about how to grill California avocados and make California Avocado Pistachio Ice Cream and shared them on Facebook and Instagram.
Additionally, CAC worked directly with major retailers on developing social content around California avocados for their channels. For example, Gelson's Markets ran an August campaign on Instagram around three CAC-provided recipe videos: Bruschetta with California Avocado and Basil, Twice Baked Potatoes Featuring Hatch Chiles and California Avocados and California Avocado Blueberry Pops, all featuring interesting usage ideas paired with sustainability messaging. Mollie Stone's Markets ran a two-pronged push for summer entertaining and back-to-school, sharing recipes across Instagram, Facebook and its blog while keeping the locally grown message front and center.
California Avocados Deliver a Flavor Experience for Big-Name Restaurant Chains
The Flavor Experience is an annual conference for high-volume foodservice operators produced by Flavor & the Menu magazine. It draws a highly engaged audience of more than 350 culinary, R&D and c-suite professionals representing some of the largest and fastest-growing foodservice brands, including Chipotle, IHOP, CAVA and Sweetgreen. The California Avocado Commission sponsored the event, serving innovative dishes that celebrated the California season.
After years of presenting some of the most talked-about and popular dishes at this event, this year CAC earned a coveted slot to present a standing-room-only “Flavor Toolbox” session. This resulted in an additional opportunity to reinforce California avocados’ seasonality and premium nature, with a tasting illustrating how California avocados can be a “bridge” for trendy spices and flavors like Yemeni hawaijj and Indian podi, making these flavors approachable to today’s consumers.
