A cold spring coupled with increased imports and a persistent labor shortage has challenged California avocado growers. The state’s avocado season stretches from February through October. While the avocados may continue to grow in size, they typically do not ripen until picked, enabling farmers to store the fruit on the branches.
This year, an oversupply drove down the prices offered by retailers and packinghouses, and growers have been trying to keep the fruit on the trees until prices rebound. Despite strong demand, pricing has dipped as a result of increased global production, with the US doubling its avocado imports over the past decade.
In the past, Californian growers could pick anytime of the year. But several years after the US began importing more avocados from Latin America, mostly from Peru, Californians have to be on the lookout for the optimal windows to sell their fruit.”
Source: atascaderonews.com