California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: The California Avocado Commission

  • California Avocado Commission Accepting Board Nominations

    The California Avocado Commission currently has three CAC Board of Directors vacancies — handler alternate member, District 1 alternate producer and District 5 alternate producer. All three positions will fill the vacant seats for the remainder of the term through October 31, 2025. These are volunteer positions without compensation, however travel expenses associated with attending the meetings are reimbursed by CAC.

    The CAC Board represents growers in California’s avocado growing regions, which are divided into five districts. The Board is composed of 20 individuals serving as producers, handlers and public members.

    Qualifications for the handler position are as follows:

    • Nominee shall certify they meet the definition of a handler as defined by CAC: “has a financial interest in handling avocados for market either through ownership, employment or membership in a legal entity which is actively and directly engaged in the handling of avocados.”
    • Nominees must complete and submit all required documents and maintain their qualifications throughout the term of their office.

    Qualifications for the producer positions are as follows:

    • Nominee shall certify they meet the definition of a producer/grower as defined by CAC: “engaged within this state in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, avocados for market.” It should be noted the definition does not include persons whose average annual production is less than 10,000 pounds of avocados in the three preceding market years.
    • Nominee shall certify they are not a handler or employee of a handler under the same entity that qualifies them as a producer.
    • Nominees can be nominated in only one district — those who produce avocados in more than one district must select one district for their nomination (in this case either District 1 or District 5).
    • Nominees must complete and submit all required documents and maintain their qualifications throughout the term of their office.

    All forms must be completed and submitted by February 7, 2025. Forms may be emailed to cac.iaf@avocado.org, faxed to 949.208.3503, or mailed to CAC, 12 Mauchly, Suite L, Irvine, CA, 92618-6305.

    The vacancies are scheduled to be filled by a majority vote of the Commission Board at a meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

    For additional information, contact the Commission at 949.341.1955 or email cac.iaf@avocado.org.

  • Special Local Needs Registration Makes Herbicide Available to CA Avocado Growers

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has issued a section 24(c) Special Local Needs registration for Forfeit® 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) herbicide for use in avocado groves. This registration is effective through October 31, 2029. Growers wishing to use Forfeit® must have a copy of the SLN label in their possession during use. The label can be found on the California Avocado Commission website.

    As you may recall, in May 2024 we alerted the industry that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) had finally approved the herbicide Rely® 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) for use in avocado groves in California. The process to get Rely® registered had taken about five years and was a much-needed tool for California avocado growers to manage glyphosate (Roundup®) resistant weeds.

    Unfortunately, in late August we received word that BASF, the manufacturer of Rely®, had “chosen to discontinue production of Rely Herbicide.” This was shocking information to receive given the time that had been invested in obtaining this registration. And as we learned, it was a decision that was just as surprising to our contacts at BASF who had worked closely with us on the registration process.

    The California Avocado Commission is grateful to Loveland Products for their willingness to support our application for an SLN registration for Forfeit®. We also are grateful to DPR for the rapid review and approval of our application. We know that glufosinate-ammonium is an important tool for growers and we are happy that this disruption was relatively minor and growers will have Forfeit® available to them for the spring weed management season.

    As a reminder, Rely® (the BASF product) is still registered for use on avocados and is legal for use as long as supplies last, but growers must have a copy of the DPR approved label that has a stamp on it with the wording “LABELING ACCEPTABLE State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pesticide Registration” and can be found on the CAC grower website here: (https://www.californiaavocadogrowers.com/sites/default/files/Rely-280-NVA-2022-04-0598-0238-avocado.pdf).

  • Rely® 280 Herbicide Available for Use in California Avocado Groves

    The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has approved the herbicide Rely® 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) for use in avocado groves in California. Rely® 280 is a post-emergence broad-spectrum herbicide for use against broadleaf and grassy weeds. Glufosinate-ammonium is an excellent alternative to glyphosate, especially for those weeds that have developed glyphosate resistance.

    The California Avocado Commission provided funding for Dr. Peggy Mauk, extension professor for subtropical horticulture at the University of California, Riverside, to conduct efficacy trials with glufosinate-ammonium and the IR-4 program provided funding for the required phytotoxicity (crop safety) trials. “Glufosinate-ammonium is an effective broad-spectrum herbicide,” said Mauk. “The weed that is the biggest problem here in Riverside is mare’s tail or hairy fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis). Glufosinate will kill it depending on the application timing and size of the plants. Treating for weeds is also going to be seasonal… the spring is usually worse because spring rains bring a lot of weeds, especially this past year.”

    Currently, growers must have a copy of the DPR approved supplemental label in their possession when using Rely® 280. The DPR-approved label has a stamp on it with the wording “LABELING ACCEPTABLE State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pesticide Registration” and can be downloaded here. This supplemental label expires on December 1, 2025, and BASF, Rely® 280’s manufacturer, anticipates that all old product will be used by that date and new product with avocado listed on the package label will be fully in the supply chain by that date.

    Dr. Mauk’s phytotoxicity trials found minimal damage, assuming sound application practices are followed. “Spray applications should not be made when there is a breeze,” Mauk emphasized. “If the wind carries the herbicide onto the plants, there can be some leaf discoloration. The discoloration appears as occasional purple spots on the leaves. There is not widespread damage. We also never saw any discoloration on the avocado fruit.”

    General questions about this registration can be directed to CAC’s Research Director Dr. Tim Spann at tim@spannag.com or (423) 609-3451. For specific questions regarding the use of Rely® 280, growers should contact their Pest Control Advisor. — By Ben Faber, UC Cooperative Extension

  • Growers Encouraged to Attend February California Avocado Commission Board Meeting

    The California Avocado Commission will host its next Board meeting on February 22 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in Ventura County. The meeting will provide California avocado growers with the opportunity to engage with CAC staff and Board, and receive updates on Commission operations, including marketing and industry activities. Growers can attend the meeting in person at the United Water Conservation District, 1701 North Lombard Street, Suite 200, Oxnard, CA. Growers also have the option of attending the meeting virtually.

    The agenda will be posted on CAC’s grower website 10 days prior to the meeting at the following link: https://www.californiaavocadogrowers.com/commission/meeting-agendas-minutes.

    The California Avocado Commission’s Board of Directors also currently has a Handler Member and Handler Alternate Member seat available. Appointees will fill the vacant seats for the remainder of their unexpired terms: October 31, 2024 for the Member seat and October 31, 2025 for the Alternate Member.

    Interested parties should complete the candidate form available in the right-hand navigation and return it to the Commission by February 15. The form may be faxed to 949.208.3503, emailed to aaymami@avocado.org or mailed to 12 Mauchly, Suite L, Irvine, CA 92618-6305.

    To be eligible, candidates must:

    • Certify they have a financial interest in handling avocados for market via ownership, employment or membership in a legal entity engaged in the handling of avocados; and handles no less than 1% of the total industry volume of avocados in the preceding marketing year
    • Demonstrate direct involvement in the selling, marketing, distributing, receiving, grading, packing, canning, extracting, preserving, grinding, crushing or changing the form of California avocados to prepare them for market
    • Have ultimate control over handling California avocados and liability for reporting and payment of CAC assessments

    The vacancies will be filled by majority vote of the CAC Board during a meeting held on February 22.

  • Preventing Alternate Bearing Patterns And Freeze/Frost Protection (Avocado Field Day)

    The California Avocado Commission will host a grower field day at Pine Tree Ranch in Santa Paula on January 25, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    During the event, California avocado growers will have an opportunity to meet CAC’s new president, Jeff Oberman. In addition, Tim Spann of Spann Ag Research & Consulting and Ben Faber, UC Farm Advisor, will lead a discussion on cultural management practices specific to the winter 2023 season. The topics will include:

    • Preventing severe alternate bearing patterns. Many groves have a very light crop for the 2023 season, which can lead to trees becoming set in a severe alternate bearing pattern. Discussion will center on cultural management practices to alleviate this problem.
    • Post-freeze/frost grove care. Winter brings with it the risks of frosts and freezes. Presenters will focus on best practices for managing groves after frosts and freezes have occurred.

    Attendees are encouraged to ask questions about concerns they are facing within their own groves and are welcome to walk through the various grove plantings at Pine Tree Ranch.

  • California Avocado Acreage Drops (Acreage And Condition Analysis Report)

    The California Avocado Commission gathers critical yield forecasting data to make informed budgeting and marketing decisions by partnering with Land IQ to conduct an annual acreage survey. Data from this survey is then compiled in a database for use by the Commission. In addition, Land IQ releases a yearly report for public consumption. The 2021 Statewide Avocado Acreage and Condition report is now available on the California avocado growers website.

    Highlights from the report are as follows:

    • Total planted acreage in 2021 was 51,988 acres, a reduction of about 2,000 acres from 2020
      • 46,727 producing acres
      • 2,668 new/young acres
      • 2,592 topped/stumped acres
    • The five major avocado growing counties — Ventura, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside and San Luis Obispo — accounted for 96% of planted acreage
      • Ventura — 38%
      • San Diego — 29%
      • Santa Barbara — 13%
      • Riverside — 9%
      • San Luis Obispo — 7%
    • Updated tree age analysis
      • 9% of groves were newly planted to 4 years old
      • 14% were 5 – 8 years old
      • 17% were 9 – 15 years old
      • 16% were 16 – 20 years old
      • 44% of groves were 21 or more years old
    • Planting density analysis
      • 19% of acreage is planted at high density (15×15 or closer and 20×10)
      • 81% of acreage is planted at standard density (15×20 or greater

    The report also includes:

    • Tables and graphs illustrating avocado acreage by condition and county
    • Tables of statewide avocado acreage by county and zip code
    • Tables listing planted avocado acreage by year planted or stumped
    • A table noting the age of groves as a percentage of planted acreage, as well as a table summarizing planted avocado acreage by year planted or stumped
    • Tables comparing the condition (producing, stumped, young, abandoned) of high density and standard groves by acreage and county
    • Maps depicting planted avocado polygons in each of the Commission’s five districts
    • Table of net change in acreage from 2020 to 2021, by county
    • Table noting the change in avocado acreage classifications from 2020 to 2021

    A copy of the report is available HERE.