As June dawns, Del Rey Avocado Co. has added the Peru fruit to its avocado line-up and is also offering more bags and other value-added options for its customers.

To complement both its San Diego County area and Peruvian production during the summer months, Fallbrook, CA-based McDaniel Fruit Co. has acquired significant acreage in California’s more northern regions.

“We have acquired a significant amount of acreage this year,” said Rankin McDaniel Sr., president of the longtime avocado grower, shipper, packer, importer and distributor. “We have doubled or tripled our volume up north.”

Mission Produce Inc., one of the world’s largest avocado producers, also boasts the one of the largest packingsheds in the world as part of its operation in Peru.

The Peruvian Avocado Commission will launch this summer the first ever marketing program dedicated to promoting organic avocados.  This will be the first time that an organic product will be marketed using assessment funds from an organization operating under a federal promotion program to promote one of the fastest growing segments within the produce category.

The ninth consecutive celebration of California Avocado Month in June has begun. This year’s marketing activity includes a recipe contest, a drive-in movie event, chef recipes, social media support, public relations outreach and more. Concurrently the Commission is supporting customized retail and foodservice promotions that drive awareness of California avocados at point of purchase.

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the importation of Hass avocados from Peru and that first year seven containers were shipped to the United States with the fruit inside having been subjected to a cold treatment. Parallel to this, the USDA also certified the Peruvian Avocado Organization to operate under the U.S. Federal Promotion Program for Avocados.