Growing California Avocados

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program provides specialty crop producers with financial assistance for certain on-farm food safety program expenses. The 2023 application will become available on February 1, 2023.

California avocado growers are encouraged to complete the San Diego County’s Agriculture, Weights and Measures’ 2022 Crop Report Questionnaire. The data gathered from the survey is published in the Crop Statistics and Annual Report for the County.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is distributing the 2022 Agricultural Resource Management Survey to producers across the nation between January and April 2023. California avocado growers are encouraged to complete the survey, which is part of NASS’ efforts to gather information about farm economics and production practices.

On January 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., the Avocado Café is hosting a free webinar concerning biostimulants and the testing process for new products. Learn more about the webinar.

The California Avocado Commission will host a grower field day at Pine Tree Ranch in Santa Paula on January 25, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Learn more about the event.

A copy of the presentation from the December 20 California Avocado Commission GEM Forum is available online. 

As GEM production continues to grow in California, the California Avocado Commission encourages California avocado growers to attend its free webinar: the Future of GEM in California. The webinar takes places on December 20. Learn more.

The 35th annual California Small Farm Conference will host more than 50 online workshops, videos, interactive forums and in-person gatherings across the state from February 26 – March 3. The conference also includes Spanish-language virtual events.

Members of the California avocado industry in need of obtaining produce safety training required by the federal Food Safety Modernization act can obtain low-cost training courtesy of the Food Safety Training Partnership. The fee for the produce safety training sessions is $35 and includes course materials and a certificate.