Spring through summer is an exciting time in local agriculture: it’s the California Avocado season! This year is even more so because at about 375 million pounds, the crop is expected to be the most robust since 2020.
Although the season lasts only late March or early April through late summer, it is enormously important to the roughly 3,000 families who farm the land from San Diego to Monterey because after months of work, they now gear up to pick the fruits of their labor.
It is also important to us consumers: California avocados are fresh and local. Grown close to home, they move from grove to grocer to table within days, minimizing carbon emissions from transportation. The avocado is a nutritional powerhouse, with 1/3 of a medium fruit providing nearly 20 vitamins minerals and phytonutrients packed in good heart healthy fat. Not to mention, the fruit has a rare knack to transform an array of dishes from being ordinary and mundane to becoming extraordinary and gourmet. Clearly, its time to celebrate the California season, and what better way to do so than an avocado grove tour?
Our tour met up at our base hotel in Thousand Oaks to walk over to local resto Pearl District for an avocado forward dinner. On the menu was Ahi Crudo with California Avocado, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, Pickled Kumquats; Chilled California Avocado and Shrimp Vietnamese-Style Ceviche; Pan Roasted Halibut with California Avocado and White Miso Salsa; Grilled Prime Filet Mignon with California Avocado and Potato Hash; Spicy Vegetable Fried Rice with Local Veggies and California Avocado. Dessert was a decadent California Avocado Tiramisu with Berry Coulis.
Next day after breakfast, we shuttled over to family owned Camlam Farms in the hills of Camarillo. With over 1,000 acres in production and 300 acres dedicated to avocados, the farm has history goes back to the 1876 Rancho Calleguas land grant. John Lamb has led operations for over 30 years and served on the California Avocado Commission board with brothers and long-time stewards Robert III and David Lamb, and sixth-generation grower and next-gen leader Maureen Cottingham. The family is a pioneer of high-density planting and sustainable irrigation and works with universities to host rootstock trials for continued innovation. One such trial led to the Lamb Hass, a premium variety gaining global recognition.
A people mover ride toured us through groves of a number of different avocado varieties including Lamb Hass, Gem and the most well-known, Hass. We learned their differences and their different needs. We also learnt about their irrigation and temperature control for frost prevention. And we learned about the bees and pollination. We tried our hand at harvesting, and my big lesson was to leave a bit of the stem on the fruit to prevent it from ripening too fast.
Then there was a guacamole competition with some surprising ingredients like mango, pepitas, bacon, jam and dragon fruit. We split into teams for a showdown for prizes for various categories like most creative, most scoop-worthy, etc
By now we had worked up an appetite and were ready for lunch by the orchard’s peaceful reservoir. Hosting farm visitors to the farm over the years, the family has become expert at grilling, so lunch featured pork ribs, tri-tip and chicken grilled onsite by the Lamb Family. The proteins were accompanied by – you guessed it – avocado forward sides. There was Farmers’ Market Green Salad with Sliced California Avocado and Roasted Beets, Baby Gem Lettuce and California Avocado Salad with Spiced Chickpeas and Goat Cheese; Grilled California Avocado, Corn, Quinoa and Mango; Lemon and Herb Risotto Cakes with California Avocado Crema. Dessert was Lamb Family Lemon Tart and California Avocado Brownies.
After lunch it was time to relax with the multi-generation Lamb family for a Q&A and farming stories. Maureen’s young son whom we had previously met as he rode his horse now flitted in and out of the area on his bicycle.
After a bit of rest back at the hotel, the group walked over to another local eatery Crawford’s to network and say farewell at one last avocado-forward reception.
Learn more at CaliforniaAvocado.com
To learn more about how to select, handle, store and peel a California Avocado, visit https://californiaavocado.com/how-to
You can use the California Avocado store locator at to find a store near you CaliforniaAvocado.com/store-locator
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