Florida’s Avocado Crop Is Wiped Out by Hurricane

Hurricane Andrew’s fury destroyed Florida’s entire avocado crop, an event that will help California avocado growers but likely mean higher prices for consumers.

“This will clearly have a positive influence on us,” said Rob Wedin, director of operations for Calavo, a farmer’s cooperative in Tustin that markets almost 40% of California-grown avocados. California produces 87% of the nation’s avocado crop.

The hurricane, which struck southern Florida on Monday, tore fruit and leaves from avocado groves concentrated in a 10-square-mile area near Homestead, a city south of Miami that was hard hit by the storm. The avocado trees, Wedin said Wednesday, will need two years to recover fully, although there may be a small harvest in 1993.

Florida grew about 12.5% of the nation’s avocados in 1991, a harvest valued at $27.8 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Florida varieties of avocados are sweeter and have a higher water content than their California counterparts. Because of their different taste, it’s hard to say how popular California avocados will be with consumers used to the Florida variety, said Avi Crane, vice president of the California Avocado Commission in Santa Ana.

Green Gold

Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida’s avocado crops, but California growers will pick up the slack, with retail prices probably climbing even higher than the current $1.29 for each fruit.

Production

Last year California produced about 87% of the nation’s avocados: (In millions of pounds)

1987: 556

‘88: 358

‘89: 330

‘90: 208

‘91: 272

‘92: 310*

* Projected

Distribution

About three out of four California avocados are consumed in the West and Southwest:

Pacific: 53%

Southwest: 20%

Central: 11%

Northeast: 8%

Southeast: 4%

Foreign exports: 4%

Source: California Avocado Commission

Researched by ANNE MICHAUD / Los Angeles Times