California Avocados Set to Peak in Early Summer

The California avocado season is reaping the benefits of plentiful rains in 2019 and is expected to hit its peak sometime between April and July this year, with a forecast for a 70 percent increased crop yield this year over last year.

The California Avocado Commission announced last month that crops are expected to yield 369 million pounds of avocados.

“The current estimate for the 2020 California avocado crop, 369 million pounds, is 70 percent higher than last season,” said Tom Bellamore, California Avocado Commission President. “There was plenty of much-welcomed rain last year, which had a positive impact on tree health and this year’s bountiful fruit set.”

Jan DeLyser, VP of Marketing for the commission, told Fresh Plaza, “The distribution of the California avocados will build into peak availability through March into April and will continue through the American summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.”

DeLyser said in the commission’s announcement, “Distribution will be targeted mainly to California and the West, and with greater volume there may be opportunity this year for customers outside this region who prefer to merchandise California avocados in season. We’re working with avocado handlers, participating retailers and foodservice operators to set up timely crop transitions and customized promotions in advance of new advertising that will start in spring.”

Worldwide popularity of avocados has led to a ramping up of production on many fronts, DeLyser said, with Columbia being a notable stand-out and so can supplement US demands year-round. Nonetheless, according to DeLyser, most American shoppers still aim to buy domestic product. “More than half of avocado shoppers in the US say that it is somewhat or very important that the avocados they buy are grown in the US,” she told Fresh Plaza. “Furthermore, among avocado shoppers with a preference for origin, 56 percent prefer avocados grown in the US, and this jumps to 70 percent in the West.”