Avocado Production In Hawai'i
Quick Reference for Commercial Growers
Variety | Yield | Image | Historical Source & Propagation | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Murashige | Heavy bearer; late spring to early summer. | Hawaiʻi selection (Kona). Needs careful harvesting as stem pulls away easily. | Large pear-shaped fruit with a small seed and excellent flavor. | |
San Miguel
| Productive, moderate, and regular bearer. | Guatemalan x West Indian hybrid. Grafted clones are standard. | "Melts in the mouth" texture; thin skin that turns purple when ripe. Spreading tree habit. | |
Fujikawa | Consistent, very heavy bearer; spring season. | Developed by Satomi Fujikawa in Honaunau, Kona. Grafted for commercial use. | Excellent cold storage/shipping quality. Rich and nutty flavor with a small seed. | |
Yamagata | Heavy, regular bearer; late season (March–July). | Kona seedling selection. Named after the farmer who developed the variety.
| Large fruit size, long harvest window. Green skin, small seed, good flavor. Great for spring/summer supply. | |
Kahaluʻu | Large fruit, but can be an alternate bearer (crops every other year). | Seedling selection from Kahaluʻu, Kona. Historically grafted for consistency.
| Often voted "best tasting" in the state. Very small seed, thin green skin, buttery texture. | |
Malama | Regular, heavy bearer; early fall season (Aug–Dec). | A Hawaiʻi selection (Kona origin). Typically propagated via grafting onto vigorous rootstock. | Purple skin when ripe. High oil content, rich nutty flavor, easy to peel. Excellent for early market access. | |
Greengold | Very heavy, regular bearer; long season (Jan–April). | Seedling of Sharwil developed by the University of Hawaiʻi. Grafts recommended.
| Developed by UH. High oil content, excellent flavor; small to medium seed. Considered by many to be superior to Sharwil. | |
Sharwil
| Heavy, consistent bearer; long season (Nov–Feb). | Introduced from Australia in 1954. Propagated via grafting (Side Wedge/Whip) on seedling rootstock.
| Industry Standard. Only variety approved for mainland export. Small seed, high oil content (28%), rich flavor. |
Avocado Production
Growing Conditions
Avocados thrive in various Hawaii climates, from lowlands to highlands, depending on the race. The West Indian race is heat-tolerant and suited for lowlands, while the Guatemalan race is more cold-tolerant.
Variety Selection Guide
Summer Varieties: 'Hulumanu' (July-Aug), 'Healani' (Aug-Sept).
Fall/Winter Varieties: 'Beardslee' (Sept-Nov), 'Kahaluu' (Oct-Nov), 'Cho' (Nov-Dec), 'Sharwil' (Nov-Feb).
Spring Varieties: 'Fujikawa' (Feb-May), 'Hass' (March-May), 'Nishikawa' (Feb-May).
Production Practices
Propagation: Grafting is the most practical method, specifically Side Wedge or Whip grafts, ideally done from December to March.
Spacing: Permanent orchard spacing ranges from 25 to 35 feet, depending on variety (e.g., 25 ft for 'Fuerte', 30-35 ft for 'Beardslee').
Fertility & Soil Management
New Trees: Apply 0.5–1 lb of a complete fertilizer (like 10-10-10) in the first year, split into 3-4 applications.
Mature Trees: Apply at least 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter. Foliar zinc sulfate spray is recommended for zinc deficiency.
Pest & Disease Management
Diseases: Susceptible to anthracnose, root rot (Phytophthora), stem-end rot, and fruit rot.
Insects/Mites: Major pests include fruit flies (requiring disinfestation for export), red-banded thrips, Chinese rose beetle, and mites
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Harvesting: Pick at the "mature green" stage; fruit will not ripen on the tree. Minimum oil content for export must be 12%.
Storage: Some varieties like 'Fujikawa' and 'Sharwil' have good cold storage keeping quality.
Farmer Resources
University of Hawaii CTAHR: Provides Extension Service Circulars (e.g., Circular 382) and Fact Sheets (Horticultural Commodity no. 4).
Organizations: Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Association and Hawaii Avocado Association.
Recommendations for Success and Adoption
To ensure long-term success, Hawaii agricultural producers should consider the following strategic improvements:
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Target Market Gaps: Focus on producing high-quality local varieties during the June to September "off-season" when local supply is lowest and imports are highest.
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Improve Quality Standards: Adhere strictly to Hawaii No. 1 grade standards for commercial shipments to compete with the high quality and consistency of imported 'Hass' avocados.
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Reduce On-Farm Waste: Roughly half of local avocado production is currently wasted; improving post-harvest handling and coordinated supply decisions can recover this lost revenue.
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Coordinate Supply Decisions: Small-scale farmers should work together through associations to provide a more consistent volume of fruit to local buyers, helping to reclaim market share from large-scale mainland competitors.
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Utilize Leaf Analysis: For commercial orchards, base fertilization on leaf analysis (diagnosing 5-7 month old leaves) rather than rule-of-thumb methods to ensure precise nutrient management.