Growing California Avocados

A recording of the California Avocado Society’s February seminar, “How to Manage Trees in a Wet Year,” is now available online. The seminar is available on CAS’s YouTube channel.

On March 15, the Ventura County Local Working Group will host an informational meeting on several topics of interest to agricultural operations. Attendees may attend in person or virtually. 

The new Expanding Our Roots: Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Mentorship Program will begin accepting enrollments on February 21. The free program is designed for farmers and ranchers with one to 10 years of experience and will pair 200 new farmers/ranchers with mentors who have more than 10 years of experience.

The California Avocado Society is hosting a free “Fertilizers and Irrigation” seminar on April 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The event will be held in person and virtually.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture Produce Safety Program is developing a PSP data repository website that allows growers to view their own digital farm inspection records and reports. The database will be searchable and allow growers to verify and update records in one central location.

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources department is offering a two-day virtual Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course that satisfies the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule requirement. Registration closes February 15. 

The University of Florida, University of California – Riverside, University of California – Davis, University of Hawaii and Texas A&M University are conducting a laurel wilt and Phytophthora root rot survey to gather information concerning growers’ cultural management decisions and better determine the economic costs of management options.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, California is experiencing an unusually high number of invasive fruit fly detections this season. Quarantines are currently in place for the Oriental fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly in California avocado growing regions. Learn more.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Southern California due to recent flooding and the San Diego County Department of Weights and Measures is collecting Agricultural Damage Assessment forms from agricultural operations that have experienced impacts due to recent rain events.