Calavo Growers

Calavo Growers, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Agriculture, Consumer goods
Predecessor	California Avocado Growers' Exchange
Founded	January 21, 1924 (1924-01-21) in Santa Paula, California, United States
Fate	Divested Renaissance Food Group division in 2024
Headquarters	Santa Paula , United States
Area served	Worldwide (United States, Canada, Europe, Asia)
Products	Avocados, other fruits, freshly prepared foods
Website	www.calavo.com

Calavo Growers, Inc. is a global enterprise specializing in consumer goods and agricultural products, focusing on the packaging and distribution of avocados, various fruits, and freshly prepared foods to a diverse clientele including restaurants, retailers, and consumers internationally. Based in Santa Paula, California, Calavo procures avocados from regions such as California, South America, and Central America.

Established in 1924 as an agricultural cooperative, Calavo was instrumental in the advancement of the California avocado sector. In 2013, the company earned a spot on Forbes' list of America's Best Small Companies.

Up until 2024, Calavo operated through three primary segments: Fresh Products, Calavo Foods, and Renaissance Food Group (RFG). On August 15, 2024, the company divested its RFG division to F&S Fresh Foods for $83 million, thereby concentrating its efforts on its main product categories.

History

Calavo Growers, Inc. originated on January 21, 1924, initially named the California Avocado Growers' Exchange. By 1923, avocado trees cultivated by California farmers yielded sufficient fruit for commercial sale but lacked an organized marketing platform. The cooperative was modeled after successful entities like the California Fruit Growers Exchange. In its inaugural year, the cooperative packed 18,000 pounds of fruit, effectively launching the California avocado industry. Shortly thereafter, the brand name Calavo—derived from blending "California" and "avocado"—was introduced to represent premium avocados. By the early 1930s, the cooperative broadened its product range to include limes, coconuts, kiwis, mangos, and persimmons; papayas were incorporated during the late 1940s.

Calavo significantly contributed to establishing the California Avocado Advisory Board in 1961 (currently known as the California Avocado Commission), which promotes the entire California avocado industry.

After functioning as a growers cooperative for 78 years, Calavo transitioned to a public company in 2002 and is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CVGW. The board continues to be predominantly made up of veteran avocado producers.

Products

Calavo Growers offers fresh avocados sourced from California, Mexico, and Chile. The company also distributes other fruits including tomatoes, pineapples, and Hawaiian papayas. Its Mexican operations feature a 50,000-square-foot packing facility dedicated to fresh avocados alongside a 90,000-square-foot plant producing fresh avocado products such as guacamole. Calavo’s distribution network spans the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia serving both retail outlets and foodservice providers.

See also

• California Avocado Society
• California Avocado Commission