-March 14,2019-
The California avocado industry is expecting a light year crop in 2019 with avocados, an alternate bearing crop. So far this season the state has harvested just 564 thousand pounds compared to 5.8 million pounds as of the same time, March 10, 2018. The figures are according to the the California Avocado Commission.
“Growers are hopeful that market conditions will be strong and good and we’ll have a good shipping season” says Avocado Commission President Tom Bellamore.
Mexico dominates the global industry with that country importing almost 2 billion pounds of avocados to the US in 2018. California produces 300-340 million pounds in a good year (over 500 million pounds in 2010) with expectations of a crop size of only 175 million pounds this year.
Our production is strongest from mid-March to mid-September.Last year cold and hot weather and the drought hurt production here.
It is expected that this would the smallest crop for California in a decade. For those who have product – prices could be good.
Mexico is expected to send an average of more than 50 million pounds of avocados to the United States each week through March. At that point, there should be a reduction in Mexican supplies, which could lead to a stronger marketing situation says an industry analysis.
Wet weather good
A California Avocados Commission report says “A wetter than usual winter, and continued rain in the forecast, is making it much easier for California avocado growers to hold onto their fruit and wait for the stronger marketing opportunity that typically comes in the late spring into summer time period.
A survey during February of several handlers of California fruit indicated that while there was some fruit in the market, and it would continue to slowly increase, it will probably be well into April before the weekly numbers jump. May, June and July appear to be the sweet spot for this year’s crop. Rob Wedin, vice president of fresh sales and marketing for Calavo, said the signi – cant rainfall has had a “calming effect” on growers as it makes any decision to hold the fruit for a better market easier to make. He added that rain makes the trees healthier, which makes them better suited to carry the fruit into the summer.”
Consumer are gobbling up their avocados. In January, a record number of avocados were sold with back-to-back weeks topping 70 million pounds of avocados in the U.S. marketplace, almost all imported.