Dear Growers,
Happy New Year! Index Fresh is poised for continued growth this upcoming California season, and we are excited to grow alongside you. As a California grower‑owned company that places a high value on California fruit, we have built a strong, dedicated base of growers while welcoming new partners into our program each year. Our network is reinforced by a seasoned field team and an experienced agronomist who work hand in hand with growers to enhance productivity and provide food safety support to meet the requirements of multiple audit schemes. We do this enthusiastically with one clear goal: to help California avocado growers be as successful as possible.
The California Avocado Commission recently published its 2026 crop estimates, with the total crop projected at 330M lbs., roughly the same volume as the 2025 season. Within that, 2026 Hass volume is estimated at 310M lbs. (~1% increase), while the GEM crop is expected to reach an impressive 11M lbs. (~40% increase). Lamb Hass volume estimates are in line with 2025 at 11M lbs. for the season. AMRIC reports also show the 2025 season bleeding into 2026, which will likely create some discrepancies between actual volume and estimates as different reporting groups apply varying season start and end dates.
We are expecting Mexico to deliver over 85M lbs. of volume for the upcoming Big Game weeks. So far, Q1 has been a welcome change from the softer demand seen in late 2025. The year opened with strong demand across the U.S., with particularly impressive movement on sizes 48s and smaller.
Recent ample rainfall in California is setting the stage for good size development on the California crop, and our Field Team is seeing clean fruit across the regions. That said, they have noted the appearance of lace bug in some northern groves in January. Please review the articles linked below for guidance on how to effectively managing this pest.
GEMs are poised for a particularly strong year, and our California Crema GEM campaign continues to build momentum. Retail buyers are scheduling meetings even earlier this season to secure GEM programs for spring. This early demand is both encouraging and well‑timed, as the crop could reach upwards of 14M lbs., exceeding the initial CAC 2026 estimate.
Index Fresh will be hosting in‑person Season Kickoff Meetings in February, with our South Region meeting scheduled in Temecula on Tuesday, February 10, followed by a Ventura meeting on Thursday, February 12. Please RSVP and see the detailed event information in the links below.
Harvest is expected to begin in mid‑February, typically around the 15th, with precise timing ultimately driven by market conditions. It is not too early to reach out to your Field Representative or our Agronomist, Gerardo Aldunate, to begin planning for the season. The Index Fresh team looks forward to partnering with you to make 2026 one of California’s strongest seasons yet.
With appreciation,
Keith Blanchard
Upcoming Gather & Grow Events 2026
Season Kickoff Meeting – South Region
44501 Rainbow Canyon Rd Temecula, CA 92592
Season Kickoff Meeting – North & Far North Region
100 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
