California avocado season starts strong, 327 million pounds expected
California avocado season starts strong, 327 million pounds expected
California avocado season is getting under way, and the California Avocado Commission has updated its production forecast to 327 million pounds for its fiscal year 2014-15. CAC also announced that Timothy Spann has returned to the commission staff and now serves as research program director.
The commission reported a strong opening to California avocado season in support of select California retailers’ Big Game promotions.
At the California Avocado Commission demonstration grove, CAC’s Research Program Director Tim Spann (right) explains the growth cycle of avocado trees to a visitor. California avocado volume is expected to build into March with promotable volume beginning in April.
“Some crop damage due to cold weather did occur around the New Year, but its impact is expected to be less than 5 percent of total production,” Tom Bellamore, CAC president, said in a press release. “We have been sampling the early season fruit and the appearance and flavor are outstanding.”
Spann, who has a Ph.D. in plant biology from University of California-Davis, served as CAC’s research project manager for two years before becoming an associate professor at Fresno State University. Previously he was an associate professor at the University of Florida in the horticultural sciences department.
“We’re very pleased to have Tim back on the Commission staff,” Bellamore said. “He is leading production research activities that support California avocado grower productivity and contribute to delivering premium-quality California avocados to the market year after year.”