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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2017)
4 CapitalPress.com April 14, 2017 Avocados a challenge for growers By JULIA HOLLISTER For the Capital Press Ed McFadden grows a different type of tree fruit. In fact, there aren’t many similarities between avoca- dos, which are technically berries, and other tree fruits. “Avocados are hard to grow,” said McFadden, who grows avocados in Ven- tura County, north of Los Angeles. “They are very particular about soil, water and climate. They like well- drained soils, which is why you often see them on hill- sides. Too much wind is not good and frost is definitely a limiting factor for avoca- do production. They prefer water with a low salt con- tent and do best with leach- ing winter rains.” About 52,000 acres are planted to avocados in Cal- ifornia, and are grown by about 4,000 farmers. Avocados are frost-sen- sitive. Most are grown from Santa Barbara County south to San Diego County fairly close to the coast, but there are a few coastal areas in Monterey County that pro- duce great avocados late in the season. California avocado trees bloom in the spring and, depending on the region, will have ripe fruit in the late winter. They are unusual among tree crops. In the spring and summer they may have two crops on the tree at the same time. Avocados can bear fruit within a year or two but don’t reach commercial production until 3-5 years. The growing process is unique. “Avocados do not sweet- en like many other tree crops but their oil content increases throughout the time they are on the tree,” McFadden said. “They normally stay hard on the tree, even late in the sea- son when their oil content is high and their skin starts to darken. They do not soften into the creamy goodness that we are accustomed to eating until they are picked.” Ripening may be accel- erated by the naturally oc- curring ethylene gas, which is why many consumers put a few avocados in a paper bag with a banana when they need ripe fruit, he said. Pests are a curse, and the greatest threat are the shot hole borers, which can bur- row into tree branches and trunks, weakening the tree and introducing fungal dis- eases. Other pests are the scirtothrip, a small insect that chews on the skin of young fruit and causes un- sightly scars, and the persea mite, which feeds on leaves. A disease called avocado root rot has caused prob- lems for the industry for many decades. There are human pests, too. “Poaching is a big prob- lem,” he said. “Thieves sometimes move in at night, strip trees and are out before dawn. Many groves need to be surrounded by secure fences.” California produces about 90 percent of the na- tion’s avocados. Around 2 percent come from Hawaii and the rest from Flori- da. Hass, the most popular commercial variety, does best in California compared to other avocado-growing areas. The American Heart As- sociation recently designat- ed fresh avocado as a heart- healthy food. McFadden says the fu- ture of California avocados remains bright despite the challenges. TM 2017 MULE SX TM 4X4 • 4 STROKE ENGINE • 401CC AIR COOLED • SELECTABLE 2WD/4WD • 1,100 LB. TOWING CAPACITY • 400 LB. CARGO BED CAPACITY • 3YR. LTD. WARRANTY MSRP Serving Farms & Ranches for 53 Years - 1964-2017 YOUR AUTHORIZED FULL SERVICE DEALER TONS OF ACCESSORIES • EASY FINANCING • FULL SERVICE DEALERSHIP • COMPLETE LINE OF KAWASAKI ATVS 2140 N. Pacific Hwy. 99E • Woodburn, OR • Open 8-6 Tues-Sat. (503) 981-1813 • 800-981-1813 • www.taylormotorcycles.com ONV17-4/#14 KAWASAKI CARES: Read Owner’s Manual and all on-product warnings. Always wear protective gear appropriate for the use of this vehicle. Never operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Protect the environment. The Kawasaki MULE™ side x side is an off- highway vehicle only, and is not designed, equipped or manufactured for use on public streets, roads or highways. Obey the laws and regulations that control the use of your vehicle. ©2016 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. MSRP does not include $590 in destination charges. ONV17-1/#7
