GreenSheet | August 16, 2017

Nominations for the California Avocado Commission (CAC) General Election, which will take place in October 2017, are now being accepted. The Commission encourages all interested parties to submit nomination packets prior to the August 25 deadline.

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is seeking to fill two producer alternate vacancies. The 12-member HAB Board — which operates under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture — promotes the consumption of Hass avocados in the U.S., represents domestic producers and importers of Hass avocados and directs HAB’s promotions, research and information programs.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has confirmed the inclusion of processed avocados in their next round of microbiologic sampling assignments, expected to begin in 2017. Learn more. 

On August 15, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a final rule to allow fresh Hass avocado fruit from Colombia into the continental United States. 

Two presentations from the California Avocado Commission’s recent agriculture labor seminars are now available online. The seminar provided a status update on possible legislative efforts and information concerning the H2A Temporary Agricultural Workers program.

The California Avocado Commission (CAC) would like to make growers who are interested in labor issues aware of two opportunities.

The San Diego County Farm Bureau (SDCFB) Labor Committee is looking for interested participants to join the newly formed group. The committee will examine means of collaborating with federal officials to address immigration reform, discuss state labor rules and labor pools and provide new ideas concerning labor issues that affect the agricultural industry in San Diego County.

The CDFA’s new Healthy Soils Incentives Program will provide up to $3.75 million in grants to California growers and ranchers for use in agricultural management practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health. A new workshop will help growers interested in applying for a grant.

After record-breaking attendance last year, Morro Bay is expanding its Annual Avocado and Margarita Street Festival to accommodate its ever-growing fan base. The California Avocado Commission is once again an event sponsor and will have a booth at the festival so we encourage growers to visit the festival and support our Central Coast growers.

To ensure consumers associate California avocados with America’s summer holidays the California Avocado Commission (CAC) shared summer-friendly avocado recipes, educational content and store location information on social media and digital channels.

On July 18, more than 1,700 retail, foodservice and produce industry representatives gathered for the Fresh Produce and Floral Council SoCal Expo. Members of the California Avocado Commission met with targeted decision makers to discuss California avocado promotions in preparation for the 2018 season.

Summary- High pressure continues for S Oregon and N Calif west-southwestward. Because there is abundant moisture in this storm track, significant rains are possible in Washington State and British Columbia. Upper low pressure near S Calif and N Baja gives more support for rain and TSTMS in central Calif and the Sierra and SOCAL-Arizona. However the pattern evolves to a dry SW flow pattern into central Calif/SierraNV, SOCAL and Arizona after August 23rd while weak troughing lingers over Calif.