Coronavirus causes uncertainty with California avocado crop

An air of uncertainty was hanging over California’s avocado industry in early March as news reports described the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

The biggest effect seemed to be disruption of exports, and some companies were curtailing travel. But for the most part, companies seemed to be taking a wait-and-see stance.

“The coronavirus is definitely an evolving situation,” said Tom Bellamore, president and CEO of the Irvine-based California Avocado Commission.

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“The (commission) is continuing to monitor the situation, which is at best uncertain,” he said.

There could be some disruption to exports out of California, particularly to Asia, he said.

There were some concerns about getting product offloaded at destination ports.

“Depending on how the situation evolves, there is the possibility of sick workers, reducing a labor force already in short supply,” Bellamore said.

He said that some events the commission was planning to sponsor that were designed to bring people together could be canceled.

Fallbrook, Calif.-based Del Rey Avocado Co. Inc. canceled a planned trip to South Korea in early March, said partner Bob Lucy.

“We are restricting travel for everyone,” he said.

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Lucy said it was too early to tell how much of an effect coronavirus will have on the California avocado industry, but he said it will reduce California exports.

It also may have an effect on volume of Peruvian avocados coming into the U.S. starting in May, he said.

“We’re alarmed by it,” said Ross Wileman, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce Inc.

“But I think, with the preventative measures the U.S. has in place, we can somewhat control it, as opposed to what happened in China and Italy.”

He said the company is recommending that its employees avoid places like gyms and refrain from congregating in large groups.

Mission Produce was exporting to Europe and Asia and had had no issues to date, he said.

“Avocados are still moving out,” Wileman said.

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As of early March, coronavirus had not had an effect on Index Fresh Inc., Riverside, Calif., said Dana Thomas, president and CEO. 

“What the future holds with coronavirus is a tough question to answer right now,” he said.

“We’re going to be nimble as we possibly can.”

There could be an effect on the foodservice side if consumers decide not to go out to eat as often, said Rankin McDaniel, owner and president of McDaniel Fruit Co., Fallbrook.

“But I don’t have any data at this point that would suggest this is happening,” he said. 

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