Growing California Avocados

The USDA has extended the deadline to apply for the Organic and Transitional education and Certification Program to February 4, 2022. This program provides eligible applicants with pandemic assistance to cover expenses associated with organic certification and/or transitioning to organic production during the 2020, 2021 and 2002 fiscal years.

Members of the California avocado industry can complete free food safety training, as mandated by the U.S. Federal Department of Agriculture’s new Produce Safety rule, from the comfort of their own home or business.

In November, the California Avocado Commission hosted a virtual informational meeting concerning the GEM variety. The video from the webinar is now available on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

California avocado growers received an early Thanksgiving surprise on Wednesday, November 24 when Syngenta announced their product Orondis® Fungicide had been granted full registration for use against Phytophthora root rot in California avocado groves.

A new publication entitled, “Manage Weeds on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies” is available for free online. A print version of the publication will be available in the spring of 2022.

The University of California Riverside Avocado Rootstock Program is seeking California avocado growers interested in participating and testing the soon-to-be released UCR avocado rootstocks selections beginning in Spring 2022.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program with a deadline of January 18, 2022.

The California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation Organic Training Institute has a wide array of training videos available online for organic farmers.