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AVOCADOS
                                                          December 10, 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 increased
50,000 bushels to 1,100,000 bushels. The initial forecast in August was
1,050,000 bushels. If realized, this will be 23 percent more than last
season and the largest crop since the 1,111,000 bushels shipped in the
1991-92 season.

  Shipments through November are 1,028,900 bushels with weekly shipments
beginning to decline seasonally. Maturity levelshave been advanced all
season and summer variety shipments have been heavy with good demand
reported.

  Bearing acres are estimated at 6,000 acres. This is slightly more than
last season's 5,900 acres.

CALIFORNIA: Although total forecasted shipments for the 2002-03 season are
more than last season, shipments for the first month of the marketing
season are less.

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

   Season            Shipments            Remaining to          Total
                 through November          be shipped        shipments
                                        Bushels
 Certified:
   1992-93                     274,700               9,300         284,000
   1993-94                     123,000              52,000         175,000
   1994-95                     618,900             160,100         779,000
   1995-96                     633,400             110,600         744,000
   1996-97                     738,600             179,400         918,000
   1997-98                     860,400              77,600         938,000
   1998-99                     730,500             160,500         891,000
   1999-00                     801,900              41,100         843,000
   2000-01                     880,300             124,700       1,005,000
   2001-02                     798,500              92,500         891,000
 Estimated:
   2002-03                   1,028,900              71,100       1,100,000

       CALIFORNIA: Estimated avocado shipments, 2002-03 season, with
               comparisons - Season: November 1 - October 31
                2001-02                     2002-03 season

  Variety         Total         Shipments      Remaining      Estimated
               shipments         through         to be          total
                               December 2       shipped       shipments
                                       Bushels 1/
 Fuerte               80,000           1,000        85,000          86,000
 Hass              7,440,000          55,000     7,621,000       7,676,000
 Other               480,000           7,000       543,000         550,000
 Total             8,000,000          63,000     8,249,000       8,312,000
 1/ Pounds converted to bushels at 50 pound equivalents.

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