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Avocado prices down from 2017

It's a good year for avocados and prices are down from last year

A summer favorite, avocados, are cheaper at the store this year.

Ben Lyons, at Lockewood Acres in Vacaville, said one main reason for this is because it's a tree crop. Lyons said avocado seasonal picking started in January and goes through Cinco de Mayo.

But Lyons said the January avocados aren't quite as buttery as the early May ones. The later season ones are what the consumer tends to really enjoy. Unfortunately, this isn't good for the tree. Lyons said those later season avocados hang lower, putting stress on the tree.

By the end of the season, the tree needs to rest and will not produce as much crop into the next year. This is true of most deciduous trees, according to Lyons.

So it seems reasonable to think next year's crop would be good and the following year would be great. But that is not exactly the case. Even with great planning and knowing the life cycle of the tree crop, there's one other factor that can't be controlled: The weather.

Lyons said this is the great unknown heading into any season, and the farmer has to be ready for anything. Take for instance the apricot. A late season rain knocked off the blossoms, leading to a very poor crop and higher prices this year.

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