California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: California Fresh Fruit Magazine

  • Novel Technology May Lead to Improved Citrus Varieties

    Developing disease-resistant, high-quality improved crop varieties to benefit agricultural producers and consumers may seem like a “hairy” task, but Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists may have gotten to the root of the issue.

    A new biological technology that develops and multiplies disease-resistant citrus plants using “hairy roots” is under development by an AgriLife Research team led by Kranthi Mandadi, Ph.D. Mandadi is an AgriLife Research associate professor at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco and a faculty member of the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture in Bryan-College Station.

    At the root of their project is developing new ways to fight fastidious pathogens, which infect living plants and resist growth in a lab setting for study. One such fastidious pathogen causes citrus greening — a significant problem for the citrus industry.

    Since 2021, Mandadi has spearheaded a $7 million U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, multi-state Coordinated Agricultural Project that is also a designated NIFA Center of Excellence to combat citrus greening.

    “Fastidious plant pathogens infect citrus, tomatoes, potatoes, grapes, peppers and other crops grown throughout Texas,” said Dirk Hays, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife center at Weslaco. “Often transmitted by insect vectors, these disease agents are responsible for billions of dollars in agricultural losses yearly.”

    A breakthrough in plant disease therapies

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the citrus industry would prevent $3 billion in losses per year by controlling citrus greening alone.

    Assay plate of “hairy roots” that may be used to develop improved varieties of citrus and other plants. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

    In recent years, Mandadi and his team at Weslaco developed a breakthrough method as an alternative means to propagate fastidious bacteria responsible for citrus greening and other insect-vectored diseases such as potato zebra chip and tomato vein greening disease.

    “We developed a technology that uses pathogen-infected host tissues to produce so-called ‘hairy roots’ that can serve as biological vessels for the propagation of these pathogens in the laboratory,” Mandadi said.

    The hairy root screening technique has already led to the discovery of new antimicrobial peptides and chemicals with proven efficacy in plant materials, said Sonia Irigoyen, Ph.D., an AgriLife Research scientist who helped develop the hairy root technology.

    “These antimicrobials, either singly or in combination, could be used as near- and long-term therapies to control citrus greening, potato zebra chip and tomato vein greening diseases,” she said.

    Now, in their most recent study, Mandadi and his team investigated how to use this hairy root technique in plant transformation and bioengineering improved citrus.

    Hairy root-based genetic engineering of citrus

    Citrus plant regeneration from hairy roots. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

    Building on previous success, in their latest study called “Rhizobium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root induction and plant regeneration for bioengineering citrus,” recently published in the high-impact Plant Biotechnology Journal, Mandadi and his team showed proof of the concept of engineering citrus using hairy roots.

    In addition to Mandadi and Irigoyen, study co-authors include Manikandan Ramasamy, Ph.D., Michelle Dominguez, B.S., and Carmen Padilla, Ph.D., all AgriLife Research scientists at Weslaco. The study was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Insect-Vectored Disease Seed Grants, and the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture.

    “Developing new plant varieties with improved genetics using conventional breeding or the latest bioengineering and CRISPR tools can be quite laborious, often taking multiple years,” Mandadi said. “The ability to overcome this bottleneck and improve this process, particularly for hardy, slow-growing, perennial trees like citrus, can be a game changer and a boon to producers and consumers.”

    A more efficient, quicker method for breeding hardier citrus

    In their most recent study, the researchers used R. rhizogenes to induce transgenic hairy roots from diverse citrus cultivars such as grapefruit, sweet orange, rough lemon and citron at efficiencies of 28% to 75%. This level of efficiency is at least twice — potentially greater — than those seen with previous methods for citrus transformation, making for a faster and less costly process.

    After making sure a transgenic root had the proper genetics, the team was then able to regenerate and clone several identical, transgenic plants from it.

    Ramasamy said while scientists have used multiple methods in the past to transform crops, the efficiency of genetic modification of tree crops like citrus has been challenging due to their slow growth and difficulties in regeneration.

    “However, we were able to demonstrate a versatile R. rhizogenes-mediated hairy root induction, plant regeneration and clonal propagation approach that could be helpful for multiple bioengineering and gene-editing applications in citrus and other tree crops,” he said.

    The proposed R. rhizogenes-mediated citrus hairy root induction, shoot regeneration and multiplication process achieved in about six months what typically took approximately 12-18 months using the previously described transformation method.

    “This means we will be able to develop and multiply disease-resistant citrus plants using root tissue more quickly and get them established much faster than when using the previous approaches,” Mandadi said. “The entire throughput for developing more disease-resistant citrus and other plants will be greatly expedited.”

    Mandadi said the hairy-root mediated transformation could benefit citrus producers in many ways by speeding the development of new varieties with superior disease resistance, as well as resilience to environmental stresses, increased production efficiency and improved nutritional quality.

    “It will also benefit the consumer in that they can expect to continue to have a supply of their favorite fruits and other items with characteristics they find most appealing in their produce,” he said.

  • Industry Celebrates National Blueberry Month with The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown

    What are some of the most creative and mouth-watering ways to grab a boost of blue? Blueberry fans will answer this July with their delicious entries in The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown. Hosted by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), the recipe contest celebrates National Blueberry Month, the versatility of blueberries and the dedication of blueberry fans. Christina Tosi, James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and founder and co-owner of Milk Bar, will judge the contest. The grand prize includes $10,000 and the opportunity to meet Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi and tour the flagship Milk Bar bakery in New York City.

    The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown shines a spotlight on the many ways to enjoy blueberries – as a meal or snack, at any time of day, with sweet or savory flavors. Contest participants can submit their favorite original recipe in one of five categories: breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks and appetizers, mocktails and cocktails, and dessert. In addition to one grand prize winner, which can come from any of the categories, one second-prize winner will be chosen in each of the other four categories ($1,000each) and one randomly chosen participant will win a sweepstakes prize just for entering ($500). The contest will run from July 1-31, and entries can be submitted at BlueberryShowdown.com.

    “Creativity, curiosity, expression fuel me, and that’s one of the reasons I love blueberries – their possibilities are endless! Blueberries add a pop of flavor, color, texture, and fun to any recipe, so they’re perfect for celebrating, in July and beyond,” said Tosi. “With The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown, fans can really embrace the versatility of blueberries and have a blast in the kitchen. I can’t wait to see what they create – I know I’ll leave with a full inspiration tank!”

    In addition to delicious taste and versatility, every boost of blue comes with nutritious benefits. Blueberries, whether fresh or frozen, offer a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and phytonutrients called polyphenols. They’re also a good source of fiber, containing 3.6 grams, and only 80 calories per serving (one cup, or approximately a handful). Eating blueberries is a simple, smart choice people can feel good about making every day.

    “USHBC is on a mission to grow our community of blueberry superfans and encourage people to grab a boost of blue each and every day. National Blueberry Month is the perfect occasion to celebrate blueberry fans across the U.S. and shine a light on the incredible growers who work so hard to bring this beautiful and delicious berry to our kitchens.” said Kasey Cronquist, president, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. “The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown also gives fans the opportunity to share their talents and creativity as we celebrate this July. We’re excited to see their favorite ways to grab a boost of blue.”

    To submit a recipe in The Great Blueberry Recipe Showdown – and read the full contest rules – visit BlueberryShowdown.com.

    For more information on National Blueberry Month, including history, blueberry trivia and mouthwatering blueberry recipes for summer, visit Blueberry.org/celebrate.

    Promotion open only to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 18 years of age and older. Void where prohibited by law. Enter Promotion before 7/31/23 at 11:59 pm ET. Subject to full Official Rules, including prizes, judging criteria, and all details, click here. Sponsor: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, 81 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 110, Folsom, CA95630.

    About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council 
    The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is an agriculture promotion group, representing blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. The blueberry industry is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments. Learn more at blueberrycouncil.org.

  • California Fresh Fruit Association Continues to Support Growers for Over 100 Years

    Every summer, people around the country enjoy luscious fruits like apricots, table grapes, kiwis, peaches and plums. And since California is the nation’s largest producer of each of these commodities, there’s a good chance those fruits were grown right here in the Golden State.

    Working to protect the interests of growers of these and several other permanent fruit crops is the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA). With roots dating back to 1921, it’s one of the oldest agricultural trade associations in California, said Courtney Razor, CFFA’s Director of Member Services and Communications.

    “CFFA is a public policy organization that advocates on behalf of 13 permanent, fresh fruit commodities, everything from blueberries to stone fruit to table grapes,” Razor said. “We advocate for our grower and shipper members at the local, state and federal levels on a vast array of issues including but not limited to labor, water, trade and food safety.”

    Statewide, the association has about 350 members from Lake County to the Coachella Valley, with the bulk of operations clustered between Madera and Kern counties.

    Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, said without CFFA members, consumers would have much less fresh fruit.

    “According to state statistics, California growers lead the nation in the production of apricots, figs, table grapes, kiwis, nectarines, peaches, persimmons, plums and pomegranates – and second nationally in blueberries and cherries,” Hesterberg said. “In fact, the state is basically the sole source of American production of kiwis, nectarines, clingstone peaches and plums. Farm Credit is proud to support many different commodities like fresh fruit that are such important parts of California agriculture.”

    Farm Credit Alliance members AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are proud supporters of CFFA. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    Razor said water supply and implementation of the state’s groundwater management system were key priorities, even in this extremely wet water year.

    On the labor front, CFFA members were disappointed in the passage of AB 2183 last year, which permits so-called “card check” voting for union representation instead of secret-ballot elections that allow workers to vote without fear of coercion. She said the association has been working with other ag organizations to educate members about how to comply with the new requirements. The group is also supportive of technological research and mechanization with the goal of making farm practices more efficient.

    She credits the Association for rising to the occasion during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure CFFA members and their employees had access to personal protective equipment and vaccinations so growers could provide safe working environments and ensure fruit could be harvested and transported to consumers.

    Razor also thanked Farm Credit for its sponsorship of CFFA’s 87th Annual Meeting, which was held in March this year at The Lodge at Torrey Pines near San Diego.

    “The California Fresh Fruit Association is extremely grateful to Farm Credit for their continued partnership and support in helping us make the event a success each year. At our 2023 Annual Meeting, we had 225 members in attendance who heard from keynote speakers about priorities taking place this year at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C. as lawmakers begin preparations for the Farm Bill,” she said.

    Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit, said supporting organizations advocating for California agriculture is an important priority for Farm Credit’s philanthropical efforts.

    “The issues CFFA works on are absolutely critical to the success of our state’s fruit growers – indeed, all of California’s farmers and ranchers,” Littlefield said. “Without water, a labor force and the ability to export crops overseas, the industry that feeds the nation and the world could not exist, which is why it’s so important that CFFA and other advocacy organizations do such a great job of educating policymakers here in California and in Washington, D.C.”

    About Farm Credit: 

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For a link to this article and for more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com.

    About the California Fresh Fruit Association:

    The California Fresh Fruit Association is a voluntary public policy organization that represents growers, packers, and shippers of the California table grape, blueberry, kiwi, pomegranate, and deciduous tree fruit communities. CFFA serves as a representative for these growers, shippers, and packers, on issues at both the state and federal levels. More information on the Association can be found at www.cafreshfruit.com.

  • Over 25 Farming Robots to be Featured at FIRA USA 2023 this Fall in Salinas

    Weeding, harvesting, picking, carrying,… Robots are today’s answer to many challenges facing agriculture. And they will show up this fall in Salinas for the second edition of FIRA USA. From September 19 to 21, the Salinas Sports Complex, home of the famous California Rodeo Salinas, will be the place to discover the autonomous farming solutions in action. During three days, expo, demos, pitch sessions and even a robot parade will take place in the Salad Bowl of the World. Please note that the traveling event through California FIRA USA not only focuses on vegetables: trees and vineyards are also at the heart of the environmental and labor issues that agriculture must address… just like FIRA USA!  For this reason, Malcolm Media is partnering with FIRA-USA, and California Ag Network, California Fruit & Vegetable, Pacific Nut Producer, and American Vineyard Magazines are among the proud sponsors of this special event, so be sure to come see us there.

    25+ robots for farming autonomously

    FIRA’s organizers, French association GOFAR, Western Growers and University of California ANR/The VINE announce that already 25 robots have signed up for FIRA USA 2023.

    “Even if FIRA USA 2022 in Fresno was already a success, this year marks a real turn: four months before the event, we already confirmed 25 robots – and it’s just the beginning!”notes Maialen Cazenave, co-director in charge of the partnerships at GOFAR. “Coming from California, other states in the US, and even from Europe, we expect another 10 to 20 robots to partner with us – and we have space to welcome them both on the exhibition area and on the demo zones (on vegetables, fruits, orchards, and vineyards)”.

    From weed control to fruits picking, robots main functions at FIRA USA

    Here is the list of the 25 robots from the companies that already confirmed their participation in FIRA USA 2023:

    • ●  Bluewhite (USA – California): Bluewhite’s Pathfinder transforms any brand of existing orchard or vineyard tractor into a fully autonomous fleet, capable of executing multiple tasks, such as spraying, herbicide, discing, mowing, or harvesting, with high precision and operating efficiency.
    • ●  Naïo Technologies (France and USA – California): Oz, Ted, Orio and Jo: light electric and autonomous ag. robots to offer a sustainable alternative to the use of herbicides that can interface with smart implements to offer a high precision weeding, seeding, mowing and a very precise guidance of the implements.
    • ●  Carbon Robotics (USA – California): high-precision LaserWeederTM leverages sophisticated AI deep learning technology, computer vision, robotics, and lasers.
    • ●  Stout Industrials (USA – California): the Stout Smart Cultivator is a software-defined, tractor-drawn implement that uses machine vision and artificial intelligence to cultivate and weed fields using mechanical blades.
    • ●  Agtonomy (USA): A fully electric, reference tractor that executes labor-intensive field missions such as mowing, spraying, transport, and weeding, in the toughest terrain.
    • ●  Ecorobotix (Switzerland): ARA is a high-precision sprayer developed by Ecorobotix, which enables the ultra-targeted application of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or fertilizers, reducing the use of them up to 95%.
    • ●  Solinftec (Brazil): scouting robot that scans the crops and record their growth rates, plant health the prevalence of any weeds, suited for farms around 500 acres and works with several types of row crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, canola and many others.
    • ●  Nexus Robotics (Canada): weeding and scouting robot that provides farmers with real-time information about the size and health of their crops.
    • ●  Verdant Robotics (USA – California): multi-action, autonomous farm robot capable of millimeter-accurate spraying, laser weeding, and AI-based digital crop modeling.
    • ●  GUSS Automation (USA – California): GUSS autonomous sprayers provide a solution to labor challenges while increasing efficiency, precision and safety in orchards, vineyards, and high-density orchards.
    • ●  SeedSpider (USA – California): the WeedSpider can be configured to efficiently and accurately mechanically weed, mechanically thin, or precision spray commercial vegetable crops.
    • ●  Farm-ng (USA – California): Amiga is a modular, all-electric micro-tractor that can turn-in-place, haul, lift, carry tools, cultivate, and is easy to adapt to any farm’s cropping systems and cultural practices.
    • ●  Monarch Tractor (USA – California): fully electric, driver-optimal, smart Tractor platform built to empower farmers by enabling profitable implementation of sustainable and organic practices.●  Mantis Ag Technologies (USA – California): from thinners to sprayers and cultivators, the line of products turns intelligence, automation and data into smart, practical solutions for growers.●  Burro (USA – California): Burros use computer vision, high precision GPS, and AI to follow people to navigate autonomously from A to B while carrying various payloads.●  Robotics Plus (New Zealand): modular platform, designed to accommodate swappable attachments for spraying – mowing, trimming and weed control under development.●  Aigen (USA – Washington) : robotics platform powered by the sun, directly. Like a plant! We aim for affordability and scale, while others aim for high profit margins. We start with the farmer first, and build our platform from there.●  EDETE (Israel): end-to-end artificial pollination service comprising 2 steps that mimics the natural pollination process: 1. collecting and 2. distributing pollen.

      ●  K.U.L.T. (Germany): agricultural machines for soil cultivation and weeding solutions for vegetable production, field crops, ornamental production, herbs, grassland, vineyards, orchards,…

      ●  Sabanto (USA – Iowa): aftermarket autonomy system installed on tractors.

      The US largest in-field demo zone for robots

      FIRA USA will host the largest demo zone of farming robots.

      Managed by Triangle Farms, Pacific Ag Rentals and the University of California, the crops will be available for the robots to show their functions on vegetables, fruits, orchards and vineyards.

      To exhibit and/or make a robot demos, manufacturers can contact Maialen Cazenave:

      fira.usa@fira-agtech.com

      Registrations to FIRA USA 2023 are open, please visit: www.fira-usa.com

      About GOFAR

      The GOFAR non-profit organization undertakes to promote and develop the agricultural robotics sector at international level. Like RobAgri, whose objective is to facilitate the technical development of agricultural robots, GOFAR meets the increasing need for visibility and networking of the agricultural robotics sector.

      About Western Growers

      Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Our members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including nearly half of America’s fresh organic produce. Some members also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations, we have provided variety and healthy choices to consumers.

      About The Vine, UC ANR

      The VINE, an initiative of University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, is California’s agriculture, food, and biotech innovation network. Our mission is to harness the power of open innovation to help industries and entrepreneurs grow and scale globally while catalyzing technology innovation and commercialization for productive, sustainable, and equitable food systems.

      We connect entrepreneurs to a vast network of public and private sector resources, build collaborations that accelerate technology solutions to solve industry challenges, and grow regional capacity to support global innovation as an economic opportunity.

  • Meal Period Violations, Farm Employers Beware

    Meal break violations are an open door for Class Action & PAGA lawsuits that farmers have been getting impacted by, according to longtime ag labor and employment attorney Ron Barsamian.  Watch this video interview with Ron as he shares what farm employers can do to maintain better records and avoid the costly losses involved in such litigation.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.

  • Excellent Sizes Expected for California Prunes this Year

    California experienced favorable weather during prune bloom and growers are observing good sizes on fruit set. While production looks promising, supplies are expected to be tight again this season with an estimated 75,000 short tons (68,000 MT) in volume for the 2023 prune crop year according to the Executive Committee of the California Prune Board.

    Bigger sizes for California Prunes are in line with the premium quality of the crop. While still in the first half of the growing season, the prune trees in California appear happy from the wet weather with natural fruit drop, resulting in what growers anticipate will be a range of optimum sizes.

    “We’ve built solid demand and California prune handlers maintain careful inventory management, putting our industry in a pretty steady position,” says Donn Zea Executive Director for the California Prune Board. “The cost of business and continued tight supply is likely to keep pressure on pricing for the foreseeable future.”

    While participating on a panel of dried fruit industry leaders during the 40th meeting of the International Nut & Dried Fruit Congress (INC) in London last month, Mr. Zea reported that while production will be higher this year, the global prune industry is in relative balance between supply and demand. “The industry realities are impacted by a return to typical crop years in South America and France after short crops last year,” added Zea.

    For over 100 years, California Prune growers have been responsibly producing premium prunes. With the highest quality agricultural standards of any nation and a climate-controlled tunnel drying system, the California difference is reflected in the naturally sweet prunes that safely reach 60 countries every year. California is the largest producer of prunes in the world and heavily invests in scientific research to continue leading the category.

    ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD

    The California Prune Board was established in 1952 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of prunes with orchards across 14 counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.

  • The Ugly Company Enhances Upcycling Capability with New Farmersville Fruit Processing Plant

    The Ugly Company, a farmer-led producer of upcycled dried fruit snacks, announced the opening of its new fruit processing plant in Farmersville, California. The facility represents a significant milestone in the company’s mission of providing nutritious snacks sourced from funny-looking but perfectly edible fruit that would otherwise be thrown out.

    Furthering its growth momentum and solidifying its mission, The Ugly Company also unveiled new packaging that will better illustrate its brand story and clearly define its products.

    With the first fruit dump of the farming season set to take place this June, The Ugly Company hopes that its plant and mission-centric branding will draw awareness to fruit waste in the U.S. and make a tangible impact.

    Farmersville Plant is Operational 

    Located in the heart of Farmersville, the new facility spans 23.5 acres. It is equipped with cutting-edge technology to process a wide range of locally grown fruits, including a self-developed sticker-removal machine, class-leading pit extractors imported from Italy, and 32 fruit dehydration tunnels. Additionally, in collaborating with regional growers, The Ugly Company ensures a sustainable supply chain that minimizes transportation costs and reduces the company’s carbon footprint.

    “Our new fruit processing facility represents a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable and healthy snacking,” said Ben Moore, founder and CEO of The Ugly Company. “We are proud to open this facility in Farmersville, as it allows us to support local farmers, contribute to the community’s economic growth, and bring our delicious and nutritious snacks to more people.”

    The facility allows The Ugly Company far greater control over the quality of its products by bringing processing in-house. Unlike other dried food startups that outsource complicated de-pitting and drying processes, The Ugly Company can also ensure greater food sanitation standards via more ability to monitor the lifecycle of the fruit from picking to end-product.

    The new facility estimates an initial hire of 28 employees spanning a variety of roles from processing to the management level, bringing new employment opportunities to the Farmersville community.

    “Upcycling and addressing food waste has been an important issue in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21). “The Ugly Company is bringing significant sustainable investments to the Valley in an effort to address the local food ecosystem.”

    New Product Packaging Unveiled

    The Ugly Company is also revamping its product packaging to provide greater insight and transparency into its products. It notes that each snack package is sourced from a single ingredient: the fruit. The Ugly Company doesn’t add any artificial ingredients or sugars, believing that the deliciousness of fruit can and should be celebrated by standing on its own.

    The packaging also shines a light on the farmers from the Central Valley from which its fruit is sourced and where founder Ben Moore was born, raised, and inspired to upcycle the fruit waste he saw firsthand as a truck driver.

    Last year, The Ugly Company prevented more than 2.17 million pounds of food waste by upcycling. In 2023, it aims to turn three million pounds of perfectly good fruit, which otherwise would’ve been tossed or fed to cattle, into dried fruit.

  • READ – June 2023 Issue

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  • Nearly 70% of Private Label Avocado Oil Rancid or Mixed With Other Oils

    Avocado oil has become a popular choice for many people in recent years because of its heart-healthy benefits and versatility in cooking. However, not all avocado oil products on store shelves are created equal. Some products are labeled as “pure” avocado oil when they contain other oils or additives. No enforceable standards defining the chemical and physical characteristics of avocado oil exist yet.

    Researchers at the University of California, Davis, analyzed samples of 36 private label avocado oil products and graded them based on quality and purity. Private label products are made by a third-party processor and sold under a grocery store or retailer brand label. Their findings, published in the journal Food Control, show that 31% of the samples tested were pure, and 36% were of advertised quality. Quality refers to whether the oil is fresh or has gone bad due to aging, heat or light exposure. For purity, researchers measured fatty acids, sterols and other components that differentiate avocado oil from other oils.

    The study included oils purchased from 19 retailers in the U.S. and Canada with various price points. They found that lower-priced oils were more likely to be tainted with other oils.

    “We found that low-cost products indicate a higher probability for adulteration, but high cost didn’t guarantee purity or quality,” said Selina Wang, associate professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Food Science and Technology. She and Hilary Green, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, co-authored the paper.

    Researchers also identified certain chemical markers in avocado oil that professional retail buyers can use to make more informed decisions when it comes to choosing suppliers. This way, consumers can feel confident about the products they buy.

    This is the second comprehensive study conducted by UC Davis researchers on the quality of avocado oil sold in the U.S. The first study released in 2020 found that many of the test samples were of poor quality, mislabeled or adulterated with other oils.

    “This study demonstrates that although progress is being made in standard development since our first market study in 2020, there are still issues with purity in avocado oil and these issues extend significantly into private label oils,” Wang said.

    Avocado oil standards

    Since the release of the first UC Davis study, Wang said there’s been a coordinated effort by researchers, industry leaders and government agencies to establish enforceable standards. The Avocado Oil Expert Group was formed in collaboration with the American Oil Chemists’ Society to discuss potential standards and future research projects.

    Wang’s research group has been studying how natural factors like different types of avocados, harvest times, geographic origins and processing methods could affect the chemical composition of avocado oil. They want to create standards that will accommodate natural variations while detecting any adulterations.

    Wang hopes that the study’s findings will contribute to the establishment of standards that benefit both consumers and avocado oil producers who want to compete in a fair market.

    “I’m very optimistic for the future of the avocado oil industry,” Wang said. “It’s a high-value product with high consumer demand, similar to what I saw with olive oil 10 years ago. Olive oil quality and purity have improved significantly, which is where I see avocado oil going, if we can establish fair standards and eliminate fraudulent products.” — By Tiffany Dobbyn, UC Davis

  • Webinar Spotlights Hass Avocado Board’s U.S. Strategy For Building Demand

    Leadership from the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) recently presented to an international audience of over 1,160 delegates from 33 countries on U.S. strategic priorities at the 10th World Avocado Congress (WAC) in New Zealand. With the global avocado market tracking to nearly double in value by 2026, industry members are invited to access Global Trends Fresh from World Avocado Congress: Discover the Top Areas of Focus, a webinar on-demand for key takeaways and resulting opportunities for the U.S. avocado industry at www.HassAvocadoBoard.com/webinars beginning on May 18.

    “U.S. Hass avocado producers and marketers can take pride in knowing the Hass Avocado Board and our results over the past decade are a model for accelerating demand growth around the world,” commented Emiliano Escobedo, Executive Director of the Hass Avocado Board, and a World Avocado Congress chair. “Delegates from around the world expressed enthusiasm for our approach to market development, especially our focus on the avocado’s nutrition story, because our work is unique, advanced, and proven to be effective. The webinar looks at how we shared HAB’s programs with the global community, why our investments stand out, and the take-home insights relevant to the entire industry.”

    Across four days, WAC delegates explored opportunities for greater global collaboration and heard from over 130 presenters on a variety of topics impacting supply and demand. In keeping with HAB’s mission to exchange knowledge that can strengthen the collective power of the avocado industry, HAB staff presented the following:

    • The Avocado’s Sustainability Story in the U.S. presented by John McGuigan, Director of Industry Affairs
    • The Science of Why Avocados are So Healthy presented by Dr. Nikki Ford, Sr. Director of Nutrition
    • Leveraging Nutrition Science and Communications to Promote Avocado Consumption in the U.S. presented by Gina Widjaja, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications
    • The Hass Avocado Board’s Role in Growing Avocado Demand in the U.S. presented by Alejandro Gavito, Sr. Business Insights and Data Services Manager

    HAB’s 2023 webinar series, now available on-demand to fit every schedule, continues throughout the year to support members in making better business decisions and driving category growth more effectively. Subscribe to any of HAB’s monthly newsletters at www.HassAvocadoBoard.com/newsletter to receive email updates as new webinars are released.

    About The Hass Avocado Board

    The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) exists to help make avocados America’s most popular fruit. HAB is the only avocado organization that equips the entire global industry for success by collecting, focusing, and distributing investments to maintain and expand demand for avocados in the United States. HAB provides the industry with consolidated supply and market data, conducts nutrition research, educates health professionals, and brings people together from all corners of the industry to collectively work towards growth that benefits everyone. The organization also collects and reallocates funds to California and importer associations to benefit specific countries of origin in promoting their avocado brands to customers and consumers across the United States.