Avocados: It Just Takes a Pinch

Albany Patch takes a look at the people behind the Albany farmers market. Recently we spoke with Steve Schumer, 53, a resident of Chico, CA. He’s the man behind the avocados and, with a single pinch, Schumer can tell you when an avocado will be ready to enjoy. 

What is the name of your farm and its location? 

It’s called and it’s in Valley Center, CA. 

How did you get into farming and attending farmers markets?

I went to college in Santa Barbara in the late '70s and then met a group of organic farmers in 1978. That’s how I got involved in the organic food industry. Lived on a communal organic farm and in the mid-'80s I started working for different farms. I met Noel Stehly of Stehly Organic Farms about five years ago. I started helping him organize the farmers markets so that he can sell food in the Bay Area.

How did you get connected with the ?

I’ve been wanting to vend in the Bay Area farmers markets for a couple of years and the Ecology Center was kind enough to allow me into the North Berkeley Farmers' Market, the all-organic one, last year. And then when they were starting this one they asked me to be a part of it. We’re trying to get into other markets but sometimes you have to wait.

What do you sell?

We sell certified organic Haas avocados. We grow other things but in order to not compete with some of the local Northern California farmers we don’t bring them up from Southern California.

What are your prices?

On the large organic avocados we sell them currently right now for $2 each and then on the smaller avocados we charge $1.25 each, unless you buy five, then we give a little discount on the avocados. The smaller avocados most people seem to like because it’s the perfect size for one sandwich, a one-person sandwich. There’s nothing left over and they’re really good.

Do people ever tell you that the prices are too high?

I would say that it’s very rare that someone will complain about the prices. It will be more of a question of curiosity, "Hey, why are the avocados a little high this year?" And then that gives us an opportunity to dialogue. And the predominant reason why avocados are a little higher this year than last year is because, for example, our farm, we’re about 55 percent of normal production. We lost 45 percent of the avocado capacity this year as well as the fact that the price of water has significantly gone up in Southern California, which a lot of Northern California people aren’t aware of. 

So this gives us an opportunity to dialogue about that. Avocados are a very water-intensive growing crop so the farmer is paying for lots of water down there and there’s less avocados, so that’s why the price is a little high this year. Last year the avocados didn’t really get so high. There were a lot of them and the season went longer. We were selling avocados at the North Berkeley Farmers Market until sometime mid-November. This year I think we’re going to end sometime in mid-September.

What were the prices last year?

I think about $1.50, $1.75. We haven’t raised the large avocado price for a couple of months. We’ve kept it at $2. I’m not sure when that price will go up, but it will go up a little bit more. At a certain point maybe we’ll just stop coming if the price is so high.

But at this point most people have been really appreciative that we’re here and that feels nice. Like I said to a customer before, we guarantee our avocados, so if they ever bring one home and it’s bad they can come back the next week and let us know and we’ll be more than happy to replace it. Most people come back with a lot of accolades and that feels really nice. It makes it worthwhile to come here and stand on your feet for six hours.

How do you feel it’s going so far at the Albany farmers market?

Wonderful! We’ve been at the Albany farmers market since it started. And every week it seems that a few more people are coming and eventually I believe it will continue to grow. And I like the fact that here, I notice more than the other markets, that I see a lot more parents with children here. I think that’s a great way to continue to educate the younger generation about healthy eating habits.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.