Calavo Growers 1Q profit rose 16 percent

Posted on March 6, 2012 by pgblogadmin

SANTA PAULA, Calif. (AP) Avocado and guacamole seller Calavo Growers Inc. said Monday that its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 16 percent on a 29 percent increase in revenue. The company also said that it expects its 2012 earnings to increase but didn’t say how much on rising fruit production in Mexico. The company said it will invest in its operations to handle the influx of new produce this year.

Calavo Growers imports and distributes avocados and processes them into pre-made guacamole products. The company also sells other fresh produce like tomatoes, papayas, and pineapples.

The company said its net income rose to of $2.7 million, or 18 cents per share, in the three months ended Jan. 31 from $2.3 million, or 16 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 29 percent to $117.4 million from $91.3 million a year ago.

San Diego’s Avocado Crown May Move North

Posted on February 20, 2012 by pgblogadmin

San Diego County farmers produce more avocados each year than anywhere else in the United States. But that number one ranking could change by the end of the year, because the region’s avocado industry is facing pressures.

Avocados are more popular today than they’ve ever been. Pick a market, go to the produce aisle and you’ll see the green fruit.

“The taste, the creaminess, at times it has a hickory wood taste to it. Its very unique,” said Don Nishiguchi, a produce buyer for Whole Foods markets in San Diego…

Avocado industry trials new technology to send fruit further

Posted on February 13, 2012 by pgblogadmin

The avocado industry is looking to ship its fruit much further afield with a new technology that prevents it from ripening in transit.

The new technology could open the export market to Europe for the first time and is an attempt to reduce the industry’s reliance on its main export market, Australia.

Avocado Industry Council chief executive Jen Scoular says a trial shipment to France has been successful.

“We haven’t previously been able to ship to Europe because the journey time of four weeks is just too long for an avocado, but this new technology, Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere, effectively hibernates the avocado during its journey, so that we can have really good quality avocados arriving in the European market”, she says.

India aims for commercial avocado trials

Posted on February 7, 2012 by pgblogadmin

India is in negotiations to set up trials of commercial avocado varieties such as Hass, with several fertile regions identified as potential growth areas.

All India Avocado Producer Association secretary Abhilash Gorhe, is currently in contact with horticultural experts from Australia, South Africa and the U.K. to try and get the trials off the ground.

“We have a challenge of getting commercial varieties in the country,” says Gorhe.

Gorhe says certain Indian states have the perfect tropical and subtropical weather for growing avocados…

AU: VII World Avocado Congress a Rich Harvest

Posted on December 1, 2011 by pgblogadmin

Last month, the VII World Avocado Congress was held in Cairns, Queensland. This five day premier event brought the global avocado industry together and a $5 million boost to the region’s economy. Avocados Australia had the honour of hosting the World Avocado Congress at the innovative Cairns Convention Centre…

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=87553

Agriculture: Vineyards catching on with avocado growers and investors

Posted on November 3, 2011 by pgblogadmin

A trellis of wooden posts, wire and irrigation system popped up alongside a chain link fence on the side of Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply in Escondido about two years ago. Nothing much happened with it until recently. The 30 Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines planted along the trellis still need another year to mature, but they’re catching everyone’s eyes – particularly avocado growers.

12-year-old wins Avocados from Mexico video contest

Posted on November 1, 2011 by pgblogadmin

The video contest, co-sponsored by Avocados from Mexico and the White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles, was part of HELP, the Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Program that teaches Los Angeles area children at risk of developing diabetes the benefits of a well-balanced diet and regular exercise.

http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/12-year-old-wins-Avocados-from-Mexico-video-contest-133397008.html?ref=008