AGRICULTURE

Consumption Campaign: Just before recent storms hit, the California Strawberry Advisory Board announced a marketing campaign to boost strawberry consumption. Virtually every fruit and vegetable has a similar trade association that tries to get consumers to eat more bananas, lettuce, tomatoes. Sixty percent of the Strawberry Board’s $6.1-million budget is devoted to marketing.

One of the most aggressive associations is the California Avocado Assn. The Santa Ana trade group is offering a new General Motors car in April to the lucky winner of its Great Avocado Debate: Fruit or Vegetable?

(Answer: The avocado is a fruit.)