California avocados focus of media, retail tour

The California Avocado Commission, Irvine, showcased its product to media, retailers and others with a weekend tour that included stops at an avocado packinghouse, a grove, and a nursery.

The event, which took place Aug. 5-6, also included meals prepared by renowned chefs and featuring avocados, according to a news release.

"When media and other influencers get the experience of actually being in a California avocado grove and see first-hand how they are nurtured from seeds, grown with care and packed under strict quality control, they develop a deeper understanding of what makes California avocados so special," Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission, said in the release.

Those on the tour visited Mission Produce's avocado packinghouse in Oxnard, where avocados are sorted, washed and packed. Visitors also toured an avocado grove, Rancho Rodoro in Santa Paula, where grower Randy Axell spoke about how the fruit is picked. A visit to Brokaw Nursery, Ventura, yielded information about the ongoing work of developing avocado varieties. That stop on the tour included a grafting demonstration.

At the closing event of the tour, California Avocado Commission spokesperson Bonnie Taub-Dix demonstrated cutting and peeling techniques for avocados and discussed information on serving size and nutrition that retailers could share with customers.