As demand for avocados in the United States continues to rise, Index Fresh in Bloomington, CA, continues to grow its programs in all countries, according to President and CEO Dana Thomas.

The company sources avocados from California as well as Mexico, Chile and Peru.

Through the summer months, although Mexican fruit has been in the market, California and Peru have dominated the U.S. avocado market. But with Mexico’s new crop starting and the Chilean season approaching, even as California and Chile were expected to start tapering off in late August, the industry was moving into a transition period.

“The transition will be out of Peru and California and into Mexico and Chile,” said Thomas. “We believe that this transition period is going to have adequate fruit.”

Along with growing the companies programs in all countries, “we are working with customers on programs to make the transition as smooth as possible,” he said.

California has had a smaller crop this year than last year, “and it moved a little bit earlier” for several reasons. Among them, is the drought in California and the consequent need for “getting fruit off the trees early,” said Thomas. “Fairly decent market conditions” also contributed.

“California is, for all intents and purposes, going to finish up in August,” although some volume will continue into September, he said. Peru also will finish about that time. “We see tapering volumes in August” and expect to be finished “by the middle of September.”

In Index Fresh’s Mexican program, the Flora Loca crop — an off-season bloom preceding the main new crop — is farily large this season, he said. The main crop will follow and continue throughout the winter and spring.

“Chile is going to come in with some initial volumes probably in September,” Thomas added.

New on the sales team at Index Fresh is Teri Morrison. “She comes to us with a lot of produce experience and a lot of avocado experience,” Thomas said. Among her previous affiliations are Mission Produce, Sunkist Inc., Tavilla Sales, Villa Park Orchards and Stater Bros. Markets.

Initially founded as Index Orchards in 1914, the company known today as Index Fresh is celebrating its centennial this year. That milestone has been celebrated in various ways throughout the year. Among them, “we had a celebration in our shareholders annual meeting,” Thomas said. “Then last week we had a series of grower appreciation barbecues.” A big party is planned in conjunction with the Produce Marketing Association Convention and Expo in Anaheim in October. Index Fresh hosts a party for customers, shippers and exporters at the PMA Convention every year on Friday night, he said. But “we are going to do it up really nice this year.”

The big story with regard to the U.S. avocado industry is the continued increase in demand for avocados in the United States and the corresponding growth of the business, Thomas said.

“We feel there is strong demand out there, and it continues to grow, fueled by all those great things” that are coming to light about the nutritional and health benefits of avocados, he added.

Continued health research by the Hass Avocado Board “is helping out with that” as well as “the fact that so many chefs are using avocados on their menus.”

Also boosting consumption is the promotional activities of the associations representing avocados from California, Mexico, Chile and Peru, which have this year combined promotional funds of more than $50 million, he said.