Alongside Ellen Baker and Freddy Menge of Epicenter Avocado Nursery in Santa Cruz County, I will be giving a presentation titled “All about Avocados” at the 2026 EcoFarm Conference on January 22.
More specifically, our presentation/workshop will be on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 3:30 to 5 PM. And the event is held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove (near Monterey).
This conference is oriented toward farmers, and more narrowly, organic-style farmers.
Here is a synopsis of what Ellen, Freddy, and I will be covering:
All about Avocados: varieties, growing, grafting and marketing
Avocados are an exceptional fruit that originated in Mexico and Central America. The demand for them is exploding, the market can’t get enough of them, but they can be a challenge to produce.
In this session we will discuss the practical aspects of producing them on a commercial small scale. Although the variety Hass will be discussed, some important new varieties will be introduced that have a place in direct market situations. Focus will be on low input, water wise, organic cultural techniques. Expansion into zones suitable for production will be stressed. In addition, pollination, propagation, pruning, harvesting and marketing and other topics will be discussed.
I have never attended an EcoFarm Conference before so this will be a new experience for me. I am told that it is well known among farmers of the organic bent, especially on the West Coast. Here is how it describes itself:
“The EcoFarm Conference is one of the largest and longest-running gatherings of sustainable and organic farmers, ranchers, and food system advocates in the U.S. Held annually in California, it offers a dynamic space for learning, networking, and collaboration through workshops, keynote speakers, farm tours, and hands-on demonstrations.”
I think this workshop will be especially valuable because my avocado experiences and skills are perfectly complemented by those of Freddy and Ellen. They have an excellent understanding of growing avocados north of Point Conception whereas most of my experience is based in the southern part of California. They run an avocado tree nursery and have expertise in propagation. I have dedicated years to learning about avocado irrigation, and I interact with many larger-scale avocado farmers.
All three of us are enthusiastic about varieties.
Here you can check out details on our workshop and others at the 2026 EcoFarm Conference.
I’d love to see you there.
Hi Greg: Thank you the Meyer Lemon info. The EcoFarm Conf sounds interesting.
I’m sure it’ll be well attended, just leave enough time for the 100 or so questions. Happy New Year 2026
BR, Joe
Greetings Greg,
I hope I might join you; thanks for the announcement. I have family in San Jose and Arroyo Grande, and may be heading that way in late January so I’ll do my best to attend.
I have so much respect and affection for Ellen and Freddie, and have been looking forward to meeting you in person as well.
I hope you will address organic nutrition and what can be done to deliver liquid organic fertilizer through drip systems,…on a commercial scale.
And of course,…arborist wood chip mulch!
Warmest!
Gavin
It would be so fun to meet you there, Gavin. I hope you can make it. And thanks for the requests on organic fertilizer at a commercial scale. I’ll make sure to include that.
Thanks also for the link to your book! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it.
Greg – Will you guys be recording the seminar, or will it be online? Looks like I won’t be in CA that week.
Gavin
Greg, thanks for the ‘heads up’ on this event. I plan to attend. I live in the hills about 10 miles inland from Asilomar and so far haven’t had a lot of success getting my trees to survive, much less thrive. Sounds like an interesting and informative venue. I haven’t been able to find any info on registration or event cost.
Thanks for all your guidance.
Tom G.
Hi Tom,
I think Ellen and Freddy will be able to speak well to the conditions you grow in in that location as they live nearby and know many other growers in the area.
At this link about the different workshops, in the upper right is a register button: https://www.eco-farm.org/workshops
Also, here is that registration page: https://ecofarm.regfox.com/ecofarm-conference-2026
Me too! I registered for eco farm in November and I’m really looking forward to the presentation on avocados!