The ongoing California avocado season of April through June has hit an early milestone of 97,412,297 fruit pounds before May 12.

According to the California Avocado Commission (CAC)’s forecast in January 2024, this season’s output will be 208 million pounds. This production will be a little lower than 2023’s 237 million pounds, due to extreme weather changes. 

Interestingly, the ongoing harvest is commonplace for residents of South California who always have year-round supplies from Mexico. 

Weekly Yields Reach 97.4 million pounds

California’s total output ending May 12, 2024 was 97.4 million pounds or 58.4% of the national production at 1.67 million pounds. 

In week 2 of May, California also imported 42.8 million pounds of avocado against a weekly harvest of 14.37 million pounds. The import total since the beginning of the season was at 1.52 million pounds on May 12.

If the harvest goes according to plan, production will reach its 2024 forecast of 208 million pounds by mid-summer.

Prices of California avocado down mid-May

While production is progressing, prices have also been on a slide as of May 16, 2024. According to CAC, small, medium and large sizes (48, 60 and 70) shed 2 to 4 cents per pound before May 16. 

Organic Number 1 Hass variety of size 48 cost between $1.88 and $1.98 a pound at the farm gate. This is even as conventional Hass Number 1 of size 48 raked in between $1.50 and $1.56 a pound.

Medium-sized Hass of size 60 cost at least $1.60 for organic Number 1 and $1.26 per pound for conventional Number 1. 

Organic Number 1 size 70 cost the least at $1.22 while its conventional equivalent cost even less at $0.86 a pound.

The availability of Mexico’s small-sized avocados in the U.S.’ market is one of the main reason for the price dip.  

The Golden State is home to 3000 avocado farmers who grow them sustainably to generate around $1.5 billion each year. Though the state’s climate supports 26 cultivars, Californians grow the two major varieties including Hass and Fuerte. Throughout the California avocado season, CAC has, since its inception in 1978, overseen this sustainable production. 

U.S. Avocado Statistics

How much avocados are consumed in the U.S. per year? Americans ate 9.22 pounds per capita per person of avocados in 2022 or 2.8 billion pounds for the entire population. What is the most popular avocado in the U.S? Hass avocado is easily the most popular due to its creamy texture and good taste. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, in 2017 Hass made up 95% of American avocado production.

Which state produces the most avocados?  California produces over 88% of U.S.’ avocados, and in 2022 this amounted to 138,500 tonnes. How much retail revenue do avocados generate in the U.S.?  In 2021, retail sales of avocados brought $1.96 billion and in 2022 the figure hiked to $2.7 billion. What drives retail sales of avocados in the U.S.? A 2022 survey on Statista revealed that 79% of buyers purchase avocados for their health benefits while 73% choose them for their good fats.