Industry

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.

On September 10, the Farm Bureau of Ventura County will host the Agri-Tech Fair. The day-long event will take place at the Oxnard Courtyard Marriott located at 600 Esplanade Drive in Oxnard, CA from 8:00 a.m. –  5:00 p.m.

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.

The University of California Cooperative Extension of San Diego County offers a Farm Labor Management Training Program designed to help agricultural employers better understand and mitigate labor related risks. As part of this program, two ag labor management seminars are being hosted in August.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expanded funding assistance to both small- and medium-sized agricultural operations seeking to renew or obtain a food safety certification through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program. In addition, the program will include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the CCOF Foundation provides grants, mentorship and technical assistance to growers making the transition to organic production. The $10,000 grants are awarded annually for three years to assist producers as they wait the three years before achieving organic certification. 

Beginning with the 2025 crop year, organic California avocado growers will have expanded crop insurance options. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency will now allow Enterprise Units for California avocados and will allow non-contiguous parcels of land that qualify for optional units to also qualify for Enterprise Units.