AVOCADOS
                                                            August 12, 2002

    Florida Agricultural Statistics Service   |  1222 Woodward Street
               |  Orlando, Florida 32803   |  407 / 648-6013
       -------------------------------------------------------------

FLORIDA: The forecast of avocados for certified shipments for the 2002-03
season is 1,050,000 bushels. This is 18 percent more than the 891,000
bushels shipped in the previous season and the highest amount since before
Hurricane Andrew struck ten years ago.

  Estimated shipments through August 5 total 337,300 bushels, the most to
the first of August in many seasons. Maturity levels and fruit sizes are
advanced, possibly because of above normal rainfall.  Bearing acres (trees
planted in 1998 and earlier) are estimated at 6,000 acres. This is only
slightly more than last season's 5,900 acres.

CALIFORNIA: Shipments through August 5 total 6,531,000 bushel equivalents,
slightly less than the previous season to date. The total harvest is
estimated to be about 1,000,000 bushels less than last season.

           FLORIDA:   Certified shipments of avocados, 2002-2003                                   season,
               with comparisons - Season: April 1 - March 31

         Season        Shipments        Remaining to      Total
                    through August 5     be shipped     shipments
                                       Bushels
        Certified:
         1992-93             133,100         150,900       284,000
         1993-94               3,100         171,900       175,000
         1994-95              92,800         686,200       779,000
         1995-96              92,200         651,800       744,000
         1996-97             123,400         794,600       918,000
         1997-98             230,800         707,200       938,000
         1998-99             163,800         727,200       891,000
         1999-00             159,600         683,400       843,000
         2000-01             218,100         786,900     1,005,000
         2001-02             225,800         665,200       891,000
        Estimated:
         2002-03             337,300         712,700     1,050,000


         CALIFORNIA:   Estimated avocado shipments, 2001-02 season,
             with comparisons - Season: November 1 - October 31
                 
                2000-01 season             2001-02 season
        Variety                Shipments    Remaining    Estimated
                   Total        through       to be        total
                 shipments      August 5     shipped     shipments
                                     Bushels 1/
        Fuerte      157,000       81,000            0       81,000
        Hass      7,737,000    6,014,000      866,000    6,880,000
        Other       553,000      436,000      118,000      554,000
        Total     8,447,000    6,531,000      984,000    7,515,000

        1/ Pounds converted to bushels at 50 pound equivalents.

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