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 also fresh and local. Grown close to home, they move from grove to grocer to table within days, minimising 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 become extraordinary and gourmet. Its time to celebrate the California avocado season, and what better way to do so than an avocado grove tour?
The 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 served, 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, and a history goes back to 1876 the Rancho Calleguas land grant. John Lamb has led operations for 30+ years and served on the California Avocado Commission board with his brothers and long-time stewards Robert III and David Lamb, and sixth-generation grower and next-gen leader Maureen Cottingham. With over 1,000 acres in production and 300 acres dedicated to avocados, 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 theLamb Hass, a premium variety gaining global recognition.
A people mover ride toured us through groves of a number of different avocado varieties like Lamb Hass, Gem and the most well-known, Hass, learning about their differences and their planting. We learnt about their irrigation, temperature control for frost prevention and pollination. We tried our hand harvesting. My big lesson was to leave a bit of the stem on the fruit to prevent ripening too soon.
Then there was a guacamole competition using surprise ingredients like mango, pepitas, bacon jam and dragon fruit. The team-based showdown offered prizes for various categories such as most creative, most scoop-worthy, etc
By now we had worked up an appetite, we 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 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 farming stories and Q&A with Maureen’s young son whom we had previously met as he rode his horse now flitting in and out of the area on his bicycle.
Back to the hotel for a bit of rest, the group walked over to another local eatery Crawford’s to network and say farewell for 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