Latest News From Avocados

Mission's initial public offering has provided some insights on opportunities the company is looking to pursue in the coming years.

Mexican avocado production and exports to the U.S. will increase again in 2020-21, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Miami-based WP Produce is partnering with The Produce Moms to increase awareness and build a following for Desbry brand of tropical avocados, a large variety that’s slow to oxidize after being cut.

Sharwil avocados from Hawaii will be arriving to northern U.S. states and Canada in November, and the season continues to March.

The California Avocado Commission, Irvine, is presenting short educational session at its virtual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit booth.

Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Good Foods is highlighting the versatility of guacamole during October with a Guactoberfest campaign.

This bonus episode of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with Mike Browne, chief operating officer of Mission Produce, about the company going public.

Index Fresh, Riverside, Calif., has found that meeting with customers in an avocado grove has a completely different vibe than in a conference room.

West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., has a new segment in the Avo Effect campaign.

Led by Cinco de Mayo sales that reached a four-year high, hass avocado retail sales for holidays in the second quarter of 2020 hit record highs.

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, is starting the roadshow for an initial public offering of 9,375,000 shares at $15-$17 a share.

Avocados From Mexico has established Avo University, a free online guide with separate training for retailers/wholesalers and foodservice personnel.

As the official start to autumn neared fall staples took more spots among the PMG top 20, but summer items and year-round favorites still held their own the week of Sept. 7.

Mango and avocado distributor Fresh Directions International, Miami, has hired Andy Garces for the new position of sales and marketing manager.

Customs and Border Protection officers in South Texas have made another multi-million seizure of drugs piggy-backing into the U.S. in a commercial load of fresh produce from Mexico, this time avocados.

(UPDATED) Avocado company Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has filed for an initial public offering, with plans to use the symbol “AVO” on the NASDAQ.

Avocado company Index Fresh, Riverside, Calif., has hired Susie Rea in sales and business development.

The California Avocado Commission, Irvine, has opened an online merchandise shop for aficionados of the fruit, with shirts, socks, stickers and other items.

Wholly Guacamole is celebrating National Guacamole Day — Sept. 16 — with a drive-through stand for free guacamole and chips in Dallas.

West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., hired Ruben Barahona in a new position of director of logistics.

Calavo Growers reported avocado volume rose 18.2% in the quarter ending July 31, but that was offset by a 37% decline in average selling prices.

The point of reference for so many things in life is the historical record.

Avocado company Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has filed for an initial public offering, with plans to use the symbol “AVO” on the NASDAQ.

Avocado House Inc., Los Angeles, has satisfied a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act reparation order.

West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., has released the fifth episode of its Avo Effect campaign, Avocados — A Ripe Responsibility.

La Dona Fruit, a Colombian grower and exporter, has launched a colorful band and packaging for avocados and limes for the U.S. and Europe.

Mission Produce, Oxnard, Calif., has promoted Stephen Fink to vice president of North American Sales.

Tropical fruit shippers Seasons Farm Fresh and AMR Agro recently completed tests of Hazel Technologies products on their products during shipping and have reported successful results.

Shanley Farms, Morro Bay, Calif., is shipping avocados and other items directly to consumers.

Germany’s Edeka Group is offering citrus and avocados treated by Apeel Science’s plant-derived technology in more than 11,000 Edeka and Netto stores throughout Germany.

Consumers seem to have an affinity for organic avocados, and suppliers are doing their best to keep the organic pipeline flowing.

Calavo Growers, Santa Paula, Calif., has promoted Rob Wedin and Mark Lodge.

Fresh Innovations LLC has opened two new facilities and plans to launch a new, innovative product in the fall, said Jay Alley, vice president of sales.

There should be plenty of good-quality hass avocados available throughout the fall — and beyond — with an estimated 2.6 billion pounds shipped by growers in California, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

The Peruvian avocado deal plays an increasingly important role in the U.S. avocado industry, grower-shippers say.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the California Avocado Commission to shift some elements of its planned advertising and social media campaign to use tactics that reach targeted consumers at home.

It’s too early for an official forecast of how many avocados Chilean growers will ship to the U.S. market this season, but some importers expect volume to be less than last season’s 27 million pounds.

Avocados From Mexico is kicking off the fall season with two unique promotional campaigns designed to elevate engagement, expand usage and increase basket size.

An innovative approach to extending shelf life of avocados may end up reducing waste, saving energy and having an all-around positive impact on the environment.

Del Monte Fresh Produce NA, Coral Gables, Fla., has opened its own packing facility in Michoacán, Mexico, said Chris Henry, vice president of sales and product management for avocados.

California’s 2020 avocado harvest is expected to reach nearly 400 million pounds — almost an 85% increase over last year, according to the Irvine-based California Avocado Commission.

Villita Avocados Inc. has a couple of major projects in the works.

When Escondido, Calif.-based Henry Avocado opened its new packing and distribution center in 2018, food safety was top of mind.

At a time when businesses are facing unprecedented challenges as they deal with the coronavirus COVID-19, the Mission Viejo, Calif.-based Hass Avocado Board has renewed its commitment to support the industry.

Avocado volume from Mexico has been similar to last year, and shipments will continue to increase over the next several weeks, grower-shippers say.

Probably no segment of the economy has suffered more from the COVID-19 pandemic than the foodservice industry.

The heat and humidity that tropical avocados crave has shown up right on schedule in South Florida, said Mary Ostlund, director of marketing for Homestead-based Brooks Tropicals Inc.

Naturipe is expanding its Colombian avocado program, with plans to have more than 2,500 acres in three years.

WP Produce, Miami, which grows and ships Desbry brand tropical avocados, has new retail pouch bags and displays for the green-skinned fruit.

Riverside, Calif.-based Index Fresh is seeing peak volume and quality of Peruvian avocados.