California Avocados Distributed in 36 States in May
By early May, at least one retail chain in 36 of the U.S. states was selling California avocados, and 65% of retailers in California merchandised California avocados in stores for Cinco de Mayo. All California retailers that ran Cinco de May promotions in 2025 supported California avocados again this year with promotions such as demos, sales contests, ad flyers and big displays.
Consumers (and growers) can find where the fruit is being carried by using the store locator tool on CaliforniaAvocado.com. Distribution at major retailers in California includes select locations of Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, Bristol Farms, Costco, Draeger’s Market, Erewhon, Food 4 Less (also in other states), Gelson’s Markets, Holiday Market, Lucky Supermarkets, Lunardi’s, Mollie Stone’s, Nugget Market, Raley’s, Ralphs, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Save Mart Supermarkets, Sprouts Farmers Market (also in Arizona), Stater Bros. Markets, Supermercado Mi Tierra, Target, Whole Foods Market (also in Arizona, Nevada and Utah) and WinCo Foods. Major Northwest retailers include Apple Markets, Fred Meyer, IGA Stores, New Seasons Market, PCC Community Markets and Whole Foods Market. In the Southeast and South, California avocados can be found at Publix, Rouses Market and The Fresh Market. Midwest distribution includes Food 4 Less, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerly’s, Price Chopper and The Fresh Market. In the Northeast, shoppers can find California avocados at Shop Rite, Stop and Shop and The Fresh Market. Additionally, a large number of independent retailers are carrying California avocados.
Loyal Foodservice Chains Support California Avocados with Spring Promotions
With early season California avocados flowing through foodservice distribution at the start of the season, CAC has been able to activate restaurant chain partners who eagerly look forward to California avocados and promote the fruit to their diners. Two of these loyal restaurant chain partners quickly sprang into action to add California avocados as soon as the season started.
Wahoo’s Fish Taco, a southern California-based chain with 23 units, and Erik’s DeliCafé, a northern California 29-unit chain, quickly activated marketing promotion plans to celebrate California’s most iconic fruit being added to their menus by focusing on key messages of locally and sustainably grown. Wahoo’s Fish Taco will promote California avocados in store and digitally on their menu with posters and counter cards from May 1 through June 30; Erik’s DeliCafé will feature California avocados on nine different sandwiches and salads from May 13 through June 30 and support these items through social media and enewsletters.
California Avocados Shine in Cinco de Mayo Retailer Social Media Campaigns
Gelson’s Markets and Mollie Stone’s Markets, two premium California-based retailers, ran California avocado social media campaigns around Cinco de Mayo, showcasing recipes perfect for fiestas that featured fresh, in-season California avocados during one of the category’s most natural selling windows. Both retailers emphasized the advantage of California avocados — locally grown, sustainably farmed and at peak freshness — while driving engagement with recipe content across their respective Instagram and Facebook channels, along with a blog on Mollie Stone’s website focused on availability of the fruit in local stores.
California Avocados Social Outreach Generates Comprehensive Pre-Season Engagement
California avocados social channels saw strong momentum from February through April as consumers actively engaged with seasonal recipes, grower stories and fresh California-inspired content ahead of peak season. Across all channels, content generated more than 7.4 million impressions (+41.4% vs. 2025), 3.6 million video views and nearly 19,000 link clicks to the CaliforniaAvocado.com website and blog, while audience growth continued to climb. Facebook led performance during this period, with the top-performing post featuring a map highlighting key California avocado growing regions across the state. The post sparked strong community engagement and conversation, reinforcing consumer interest in locally grown California avocados and the growers behind them.
CAC’s 2025 Grove Tour Takes Top Honors at PRSA and NAMA Events
The California Avocado Commission’s 2025 Grove Tour continues to generate momentum and industry recognition long after the event took place last April. The program recently earned First Place at the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Classics Awards in the Events & Observances category, as well as receiving a Merit Award at the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) awards in February 2026. The tour generated significant media coverage, social engagement and long-term relationship-building opportunities that continue to yield media results for CAC and California avocado growers. Judges specifically praised the program’s creativity, strategic storytelling and measurable impact — reinforcing the power of authentic grower stories and experiential public relations in today’s media landscape.
