Commission

On August 22, the California Avocado Society will host a “Planting Density/technique, Entomology, Pathology, New Rootstocks/Scions” field day at Pine Tree Ranch. The field day will cover root rot, pollination, new avocado varieties, avocado sunblotch viroid and avocado leaf roller/miner. 

As California avocado harvest rates continue to exceed early and mid-season projections, the California Avocado Commission has engaged with industry stakeholders to better understand the volume of fruit that remains to be harvested. The consensus from these discussions is that the total 2024 California crop volume will exceed 300 million pounds.

The California Avocado Commission has a producer alternate member seat available on the CAC Board of Directors for District 2. The vacancy will be filled by a majority vote of the Board at a meeting held on August 15 and the appointed person will serve through October 31, 2025.

Each year the California Avocado Commission partners with Land IQ to produce a Statewide Avocado Acreage and Condition Analysis report utilizing digital satellite imagery, aerial photography and analytical tools to survey California avocado groves. This data provides crucial information for the industry.

On June 26, 2024, the California Avocado Commission released a statement regarding the U.S./Mexico Operational Work Plan allowing Hass avocados from the Mexican states of Michoacan and Jalisco to be exported to the U.S. Under the current OWP, the inspections are conducted by Mexican personnel employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Commission typically releases a crop update with an estimated crop size and timing based on grower survey results. There are times when the grower and handler survey results are not aligned closely enough for CAC to publish one number. This is the case in 2024 and therefore CAC is providing the results of both the handler and grower mid-season crop updates.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has compiled a Risk Management Document concerning the potential decision to permit the importation of avocados from Guatemala, a region known for the prevalence of the avocado seed weevil. California avocado growers are encouraged to submit comments or letters and submit them to the USDA.

California avocado growers are highly encouraged to respond to the Commission’s 2024 Planning Survey, which provides growers with the opportunity to offer input about how CAC invests its resources in marketing, production research, industry affairs and export market development. 

The California Avocado Commission’s Board of Directors currently has a Producer Member seat available for District 2. The appointee will fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the unexpired term through October 31, 2024.