Give a Hand to California's Avocado Growers

Perhaps, Ronald, you need to tour an avocado orchard. There are around 6,000 avocado farms in California, with an average size of around 10 acres each; these are 99% family owned; less than one in 20 (approximately) own or use a tractor or have any other on-farm fossil fuel requiring mechanization; the trees are planted, irrigated, fertilized, pruned and picked by hand. OK sure, the farmers don't carry the fruit by hand to the packing facilities -- which are large, corporate entities like Calavo. But give them a break -- they are the last of a dying breed of fiercely independent family farmers, and have been dealt tough blows by a government that was pro trade at any cost, exotic pest invasions, and now drought .....can you name another commodity with 99% family farmers and only 1% of the industry corporately farmed? I wouldn't look to WA fruit for an example, that's for sure!

Another weird thing...their site explains how to grow avocado trees but then there's this note:

9.Don't expect your house plant to bear fruit. Although this does occur occasionally, it usually requires grafting. A plant grown from seed will take anywhere from five to 13 years to flower and bear fruit. Fruit on trees grown from seeds are seldom good to eat.