Avocado: stuck at 60

The start of the 1999 California Hass avocado harvest can be summed up simply: too little, too late.

Bad weather in the fall and early winter means avocados haven’t gained weight the way they usually do after the holidays. In the produce business, that’s bad.

Avocados, in the jargon of the industry, are stuck at size 60, when growers want at least a size 48 (60 is smaller than 48 in avocado talk because the size refers to the number of avocados in a standard-size case).

FYI, a size 48 weighs about 8 ounces, a 60 about 7 ounces. Figure you’ll be able to use half of that amount after you’ve removed the pit and peel.

The bigger the fruit, of course, the higher the price. That’s especially true this year, since there are so many small avocados around. Last season at this time, the difference in the wholesale price between a size 60 and a 48 was between $2 and $3 a case. This year, it’s as much as $10 a case.

But don’t count on scoring a bargain by looking for smaller avocados. It won’t be easy to find them. Avocados--unlike most other fruits and vegetables--can hang on the tree almost indefinitely without going bad, and growers are willing to put off picking to see if the little suckers grow.

That means the Hass season, which normally gets its first big kick right about now, is still poking along. And this year 60s are selling for more than 48s were last year.

Furthermore, this year’s total harvest will be about 15% less than last year’s, which was about 5% less than the previous year’s. Blame a bad growing season capped off by the Christmas freeze, which affected groves in Ventura County and around San Luis Obispo.