Growers are gearing up for the 2024-25 Florida avocado harvest, and indications are that this should be a good year for the green-skin fruit.
The Avocado Administrative Committee of Florida estimated that final production totals for the 2023-24 season will come in at 21,235 metric tons, down 6.6% from the 2022-23 season. Growers say it appears that volume for the coming season should be similar to or slightly above last year’s numbers.
Florida’s avocado season generally runs from June through December, with some available in January, said Peter Leifermann, vice president of sales and marketing for Homestead, Fla.-based Brooks Tropicals.
The company expected to begin harvesting by the second week in June. Growing conditions weren’t ideal this year, but Brooks Tropicals should have good crop, he said.
“The recent offseason has been abnormally dry and hot, but we escaped major wind events last year, so the groves are in good order,” he said. “We expect quality to be as good as ever.”
Brooks Tropicals grows about 30 different varieties of tropical avocados in about 1,200 acres of groves, Leifermann said.
The company, like other suppliers, was coping with a pesky virus that attacks the state’s avocado crops.
“We continue to combat the effects of the laurel wilt virus, using proprietary and newly developed scientific methods,” Leifermann said.
Doral, Fla.-based J&C Tropicals expects this year’s harvest to start around the Fourth of July, said Denise Gomez, marketing manager. Growing conditions have been “stable,” and the crop appears to be on schedule, she said.
“We’re expecting great quality for this season,” Gomez added.
J&C Tropicals sources green-skin avocados from a number of local farmers and will have Florida avocados until January.
Homestead-based New Limeco grows several varieties of green-skin avocados in Florida, said Eddie Caram, general manager. The company will start harvesting by the end of May, he said, and fruit should be available through March.
Growing conditions have been good so far, Caram said.
“It was not a very cold winter, and spring has been great weather,” he said. “Quality should be very good.”
Although it was too early to know for sure in late April, Caram said he expected New Limeco to have a slight increase in avocado volume this year and a “steady crop.”
New Limeco sells mostly to bulk customers, but the company has the ability to bag avocados as well, Caram said.
Florida growers say they produce a distinctive avocado. The biggest difference between Florida avocados and avocados from California or Mexico is the fat content, Gomez said.
“Florida avocados have less fat — about 3 grams compared to 4.6 grams for hass avocados,” she said.
The size, taste and productivity also are different.
“The average Florida avocado weighs over 1 pound per piece and offers an excellent consumer value,” Leifermann said.
Besides the larger size compared to other avocados, product from Florida fruit has a milder taste, Caram added.
