In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8), the California Avocado Commission is sharing profiles of some female avocado farmers to showcase the role of women in the industry. Women have long been active in growing California avocados. Many California avocado growers come from multigenerational farming families, and with generational transitions happening, increasingly women are taking on avocado grove management and ag industry leadership roles.
“The Commission is happy to celebrate International Women’s Day and the many women involved in the California avocado industry,” said California Avocado Commission online marketing director Zac Benedict.
L-R: Tara Axell Rosenthal, Jessica Hunter. Photo: California Avocado Commission.
Tara Axell Rosenthal is a fifth-generation California farmer and third-generation California avocado grower. She grew up on the Axell family avocado grove but it wasn’t until 2020, after her father’s passing, that growing avocados became her profession. Her mother, Joanna Axell, is the owner of the family ranch, Rancho Rodoro.
Jessica Hunter was the first third-generation family member to join the family business after college. After 20 years, she is now CEO of Del Rey Avocado, her family’s avocado-growing and packing company located in San Diego County. Her daily duties include managing the California avocado procurement team and the operations of both the packing and distribution centers on the West Coast. She also manages more than 100 acres of the company’s avocado groves. Hunter serves on the Executive Committee of the California Avocado Commission board of directors.
Catherine Pinkerton Keeling’s family has been growing California avocados for more than half a century. After college she and her husband Travis volunteered for the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. She later became a licensed clinical social worker in the Midwest. In late 2017 when the Thomas Fire destroyed about 70 percent of the avocado ranch, the couple felt a calling to help rebuild their farm. Pinkerton Keeling now serves as an alternate on the California Avocado Commission board of directors.
L-R: Catherine Pinkerton Keeling, Hilary Kitzman Wilkie. Photo: California Avocado Commission
Hilary Kitzman Wilkie was introduced to growing avocados on her parents’ avocado grove in Morro Bay, California. She received her degree in computer science and then home-schooled four children. In 2016 when her father was preparing to retire, she and her husband Andrew started learning to grow California avocados. She is proud that the family avocado farm (Kitzman Fair Haven) utilizes a variety of environmentally responsible practices.
“With more female avocado growers being available and willing to share, CAC is featuring their stories on www.californiaavocado.com, social media, in marketing materials and retail programs,” said Benedict.
The California Avocado Commission’s forecast for this year is 257 million pounds. There was relatively light harvesting in February and volume is expected to ramp up in March with peak availability April-July.
For more information:
Marji Morrow
California Avocado Commission
Tel: 323-456-6751
[email protected]
www.californiaavocado.com