The 2018-19 California avocado crop is expected to fall short of 2017-18 output by nearly half.
The California Avocado Commission 2018-19 preseason crop estimate for all varieties is 175 million pounds, with 167 million pounds of the hass variety, Jan DeLyser, vice president marketing of the California Avocado Commission, said in a statement.
“This number is slightly over half of the 2018 season,” she said. “The lower volume is due to various weather factors including a severe heat wave in July 2018.”
With the reduced crop volume, DeLyser said the commission plans to target the crop mostly to California and the West.
“We anticipate the volume building into March with peak availability from April through August,” she said in a statement. “There will be promotable volume for targeted retailers and foodservice operators. Early December rains have been welcomed and are expected to help with tree health and fruit sizing.”
