What It Really Costs to Run a California Avocado Farm
We harvested 52,000 pounds of premium Hass and lost $30,203. The full economics of a California avocado grove: water, farm gate pricing,…
Hass Avocado Season Wrap-Up: What to Expect as Fuerte Season Arrives
Our Hass harvest is finished for the year, and Fuerte season is next: the Fuertes on our trees are sizing up now…
Commercial Avocado Grove Revitalization: Well Drilling, Power, and Replanting 10 Acres
Reviving a commercial avocado grove comes down to three things done in order: secure water, bring in power, and replant with trees…
Avocado Harvest Season Wrap-Up: Saving the Last Fruit for Kitchen Recipes
At the end of every avocado harvest we hold back a batch of mature fruit from the last commercial pick for our…
California Farm Overtime Law AB 1066: Why Good Intentions Backfired on Farmworkers
AB 1066 backfired on many California farmworkers because most farms responded to overtime after 40 hours by capping schedules at 40 and…
Farm Worker Wages: Comparing US and Mexico Agricultural Labor Economics
Farm workers in the United States earn far more than farm workers in Mexico: our preliminary look suggests US agricultural take-home pay…
Are Farmers Rich? The Reality of Agricultural Income and California Family Farms
Most farmers are not rich: many own valuable land and equipment, but the farming itself often earns little or even loses money,…
San Diego County Small Farms: Why Local Agriculture Leads the Nation
San Diego County holds a unique title in American agriculture that surprises most people outside our region. While large-scale industrial farming dominates…
Why Food Prices Are Rising: California AB 1066 and Its Impact on Family Farms
Food prices keep rising because nearly every cost of growing food has gone up at once, and labor is one of the…
Avocado Box Weight vs Count: How Seasonal Sizing Affects Farm-Direct Orders
How many avocados are in a 4lb or 6lb box? At mid-season sizes, a 4-pound box holds about 8 avocados and a…
Imported Avocados and California Growers: What Is Behind the Price on the Shelf
Imported avocados now set most of the price on American shelves, and California family growers, who farm under higher water costs and…
The Real Cost of Managing an Avocado Grove: Our Numbers vs UC Davis
Could we save a serious amount of money by managing our own grove instead of paying a company to do it? Our…
What an Avocado Farm Actually Pays Its Owners
After we published our grower statement, the comments filled up with one question above all others: what did you two actually pay…
Avocado Math: How We Lost $30,203 on 52,000 Pounds of Hass
People assume that owning an avocado grove in Southern California is easy money. The truth sitting in our grower statement says otherwise.…
