- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The California avocado industry is getting much-needed hope from results of a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) study on high-density planting, reported Lesley McClurg on Capital Public Radio. One farmer featured in her report said, because of the drought, he is paying $1,600 per acre-foot for water, an all-time high.
Gary Bender, an advisor with UC ANR Cooperative Extension in San Diego County, believes that increasing per-acre yield will help farmers stay in business.
“We've been growing avocados wrong all these years and we're finally starting to figure it out," Bender...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
California farmers are changing the way they grow avocados to deal with three distinct problems that are cutting into profits: rising fertilizer costs, spikes in water rates, and competition from avocados grown in Peru, Chile and Mexico, says University of California Cooperative Extension farm adviser Gary Bender. He was quoted in a story on Takepart.com about looming price increases for much-loved guacamole.
It takes 74 gallons of water to produce one pound of avocados — and drought-stricken California produces...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
An unusual weather pattern over the last year has led to an abundance of small-sized avocados on Southern California trees, reported National Public Radio. The radio news service sought an explanation from Gary Bender, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in San Diego County.
Bender said in his 29 years on the job he has not seen such tiny avocados as those being picked this year.
Typically, several months after pollination, high temperatures in July cause a significant amount of developing fruit to drop to the orchard floor. That didn't happen in the...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Getting macadamia nuts fresh from the farm doesn't require trans-Pacific travel. The United State's second-largest macadamia industry is in San Diego County. UC Cooperative Extension will sponsor a field day for current and aspiring growers Nov. 6, according to an article on the website Ah-Ha Rancho Santa Fe.
Held in conjunction with the California Macadamia Society and the Gold Crown Macadamia Association, the event will be at the macadamia farm of Garry and Patricia Prather, 6686 Via de la Reina, Bonsall, Calif.
Macadamia nuts are native to Australia. In 1946, a large plantation was...
