Avocado growers are reporting a light crop in all California growing regions including San Diego County. Growers here faced a double whammy from weather and wildfire. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has more.
There are fewer avocados this year because of hot weather last spring.
In San Diego County, some avocado trees were damaged by wildfire and farmers are stripping fruit to give trees a better chance to recover from fire damage.
County Farm Bureau Director Eric Larson says it's still too soon to say whether the light crop will hit farmers in the pocketbook.
"If the market stays strong and what fruit we do pick demands a higher price in the market then maybe things won't be as dire from a dollar standpoint," Larson said.
Fewer California avocados means more of the supply at local supermarkets will come from foreign countries.
Larson says the avocado bloom is on the trees now and the cooler weather is a relief since growers don't want to see a repeat of last year's hot weather.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.
