California avocado growers are crediting Mexican imports for boosting, rather than hindering, their business. Although the U.S. lifting its ban on Mexican avocados in 1997 initially sparked fears of oversupply and suppressed prices, many growers now say the consistent influx of avocados has helped establish a reliable, year-round supply. This availability has transformed avocados from seasonal, niche items into everyday staples in households and restaurants across the country.
Instead of displacing domestic fruit, the imports have fueled consumer demand. Before Mexican avocados entered the U.S. market, California producers often had to work hard to generate interest during their short growing season. Now, avocados are popular nationwide and year-round, with consumption per capita tripling from 2000 to 2021, according to federal data. Dishes like avocado toast and guacamole are now standard menu items from New York to the Midwest and the South, reflecting how far the fruit has come in American diets.
A Booming Market for Avocado Farmers
California avocado growers like Andreas Tompros, who lost part of his orchard to wildfire in 2024, remain optimistic. Tompros is currently replanting 300 avocado trees on his Ventura County hillside orchard, confident that the U.S. appetite for avocados will only continue to grow. Formerly in the software industry, he now sees the fruit as a long-term investment, calling it “the superfood” with ever-expanding appeal.
The rise in demand is tied not just to popularity but also to growing consumer interest in healthy fats. Emiliano Escobedo, executive director of the Hass Avocado Board, highlighted the impact of a 2000 federal law that helped market the fruit through research and advertising, funded by a fee on both domestic and imported avocados. According to Richard Sexton, an agricultural economist at UC Davis, avocado consumption has outpaced other fruits significantly in recent years, thanks in part to this strategic marketing push.
California currently produces about 10% of the avocados consumed in the U.S., almost all of the country’s domestic supply. The state’s season runs from April to September, while Mexican imports fill in the rest of the year to meet nationwide demand. With tariffs so far sparing avocados, California avocado growers are eager for the flow of Mexican fruit to continue, though they also call for stringent inspections to prevent pests that could harm their orchards.
Challenges and Growth in a Fire-Prone Region
Despite wildfires becoming a recurring threat, many Southern California farmers are planting more avocado trees, especially as lemon prices fall due to global competition. Ventura County, a hub for avocado cultivation, is seeing a sharp uptick in demand for new trees, even after the November 2024 fires damaged local orchards.
Rob Brokaw, whose family nursery has supplied trees for 70 years, confirmed the boom. “We’re sold out for this year and mostly sold out for 2026,” he said.
Tompros considered switching to lemons or other crops, but ultimately chose to stick with avocados due to the enduring demand. He’s now taking extra fire precautions and hopes his new trees will soon yield fruit for local packinghouses and seasonal gift boxes. “It’s still growing in popularity,” he said, confident in both his orchard’s and the avocado market’s bright future.
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