Avocado growers have a big demand for Super Bowl parties

Avocado growers are picking their fruit fast this week to meet the demand for the biggest day of the year for guacamole, Super Bowl Sunday.

Agricultural analysts say 8-million pounds of guacamole will be enjoyed across the country.

Avocados prepared in many other ways will be served at parties and restaurants from coast to coast. The popularity is, in part, because of the versatility once you get a ripe one in your hand.

“The seven layer dip, or just the bowl of avocado, there’s the vegetarians, the vegans, they really enjoy it,” said Jessica Marquez with Rancho Santa Cecilia. “You can stuff the avocado, and I can only imagine the hundreds of different ways people use them.”

Her family has a ranch in the Carpinteria Valley. The area is the home of the California Avocado Festival in October.

The difference in the avocados bought locally, she says, is “Hands down, quality. There’s nothing like a Carpinteria Avocado. That perfectly ripe avocado that hasn’t been refrigerated, and nothing like an avocado that isn’t manipulated into being ripened.”

Her dad Cecilio has been working the ranch land for almost 20 years. They mainly have avocados but also grow cherimoya, tangerines, lemons, and other fruits using the unique location set back from the ocean with views towards the Santa Barbara and Ventura County hills.
Mary Marquez says family growers provide “consistency. You offer your produce and they say wow it’s good quality you’re a great family and that’s how it starts progressing from there and the farmers markets too.”

Rancho Santa Cecilia sells at markets in Santa Barbara County, Thousands Oaks and Hollywood.

“You can never have enough avocado, so it is better to buy 12 avocados than say three. The bigger the bowl the happier the crowd,” said Jessica.