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AVOCADOS
                                                           October 11, 2002

    Florida Agricultural Statistics Service   |  1222 Woodward Street
               |  Orlando, Florida 32803   |  407 / 648-6013
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FLORIDA: The forecast of avocados for certified shipments is continued at
1,050,000 bushels. This is 18 percent more than shipped in the previous
season and five percent more than in the 2000-01 season.
  Estimated shipments through September total 726,700 bushels, the most at
this time in many seasons. Advanced maturity levels of fruit and production
of more summer varieties has led to this advanced harvest.
  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: One month remains in the marketing season. Shipments to date
have exceeded earlier estimates of production. Shipments of Hass and other
varieties continue at a slightly higher rate than last season.

    FLORIDA: Estimated certified shipments of avocados, 2002-03 season,
               with comparisons - Season: April 1 - March 31

  Season             Shipments             Remaining to         Total
                 through September         be shipped         shipments
                                        Bushels
 Certified:
  1992-93                      274,700              9,300         284,000
  1993-94                       61,000            114,000         175,000
  1994-95                      374,200            404,800         779,000
  1995-96                      388,300            355,700         744,000
  1996-97                      461,800            456,200         918,000
  1997-98                      598,900            339,100         938,000
  1998-99                      489,000            402,000         891,000
  1999-00                      555,300            287,700         843,000
  2000-01                      635,000            370,000       1,005,000
  2001-02                      577,400            313,600         891,000
 Estimated:
  2002-03                      726,700            323,300       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
               Total           through     Remaining to be Estimated total
            shipments       September 30       shipped        shipments
                                     Bushels 1/
 Fuerte          157,000           81,000               0          81,000
 Hass          7,737,000        7,251,000               0       7,251,000
 Other           553,000          487,000          67,000         554,000
 Total         8,447,000        7,819,000          67,000       7,886,000
 1/ Pounds converted to bushels at 50 pound equivalents.

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