That’s right, in California, there are around 3,000 avocado growers. The California avocado industry is small- scale, with the average acreage of avocados per farmer in California being only 17 acres. Here at Talley Farms we grow 80 acres of Hass avocados.
These 3,000 California farmers will harvest around 375 million pounds of avocados this year, mainly of the Hass variety. However, there are many varieties of avocados, and some of them are excellent for eating. “Greenskin” avocados like Fuerte, Bacon, and Pinkerton varieties have good oil content and excellent flavor. They have a thinner peel, and don’t turn dark as they ripen, you’ll know they are ripe when they are soft to the touch. Look for them at your farmers’ markets.
Consumers are familiar with the names Calavo, Mission, Del Rey, or West Pack. These companies pack, ripen (because ripe avocados sell better!), and sell farmers’ fruit, sometimes assisting them with harvesting and providing consulting services on growing. There are at least 17 packers of California avocados, and most of them also pack fruit from Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, allowing them to offer a year-round supply to their retail and wholesale customers.
The peak availability of California Hass avocados is from June through October, with other varieties primarily available earlier and later. The first harvest begins in March in San Diego County and progresses up the coast to Morro Bay, concluding in October with a harvest of high oil content avocados. Look forward to California Hass avocados in your Talley boxes starting in June.
