Growing California Avocados

Beginning with the 2025 crop year, organic California avocado growers will have expanded crop insurance options. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency will now allow Enterprise Units for California avocados and will allow non-contiguous parcels of land that qualify for optional units to also qualify for Enterprise Units.

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Small Farms, Food Safety Technical Assistance Programs is offering a two-day virtual Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course from July 9 – 10. The course meets the requirements set by the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule mandating at least one member of an agricultural operation attend a PSA course.

The California Avocado Society, in partnership with the California Avocado Commission and the UC Cooperative Extension, is hosting a comprehensive Avocado Field Seminar on June 25 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The University of California Cooperative is hosting an Intro to Integrated Pest Management for Farmers webinar on June 11 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Experts in the field will discuss how to manage pests with practices that reduce reliance on pesticides.

On May 22, the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Avocado Inspection Program announced the Reed avocado release dates for the 2024/2025 season.

The Commission typically releases a crop update with an estimated crop size and timing based on grower survey results. There are times when the grower and handler survey results are not aligned closely enough for CAC to publish one number. This is the case in 2024 and therefore CAC is providing the results of both the handler and grower mid-season crop updates.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has approved the herbicide Rely® 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) for use in avocado groves in California. Rely® 280 is a post-emergence broad-spectrum herbicide for use against broadleaf and grassy weeds. Glufosinate-ammonium is an excellent alternative to glyphosate, especially for those weeds that have developed glyphosate resistance. 

The California Avocado Commission will host a field day at Pine Tree Ranch on June 5, from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. that will focus on the new California avocado crop coefficient research, using a crop coefficient for irrigation purposes and the GEM spacing trial.