CALIFORNIA AVOCADO SEASON STARTS IN SAN DIEGO

California Hass avocados started up in April due to a cold and rainy winter. The season historically has started as early as January/February in San Diego and works its way north as each area of California finishes their harvest and another area begins.  The beginning of the year is when the California Hass Avocado must pass the minimum allowed level of oil content before being picked. The trees are full of fruit and in order to continue to size and produce, the tree needs to be relieved of their burden of fruit to make room for the next more flavorful picking.  The oil content will develop as they mature with each harvest.  For example, Hass avocados from San Diego will taste the best earliest in the year, think late April/May.  As the months go on avocados from the central coast and even farther north will develop the high oil content and flavor we expect from a California avocado.

Chris Gill Photography

As we eagerly await California Hass avocados, we must be patient.  Buyers should be aware of the avocado growing cycles and know that they can be disappointed with an early crop.  The cycle of maturation, no matter where avocados are grown in the world, means the early crop will have low oil content , low flavor and uneven inconsistent ripening.   

When you are out shopping ask your local produce person where their California Hass are grown.  You will be sure to buy a better tasting avocado if you choose based on seasonality and geography, Southern California to start off no later than April and work your way north as each area of California finishes their harvest and another area begins.   By June/July most of the California avocados should be at their peak oil content if they are picked at maturity.  The Hass season runs vertically from South to North, following the shape of California which is long and narrow.  The regions will overlap a bit as one finishes and the next one is starting.  Avoid the earliest crop of any avocado and think low oil content.