IRVINE, CALIF. – The California Avocado Commission is celebrating a decade of June officially being California Avocado Month.

In honor of the anniversary, the commission has enlisted the culinary talents of Southern California native Chef Nyesha Arrington to create two seasonal recipes that prominently feature California avocados, which are grown by about 3,000 California avocado growers with groves from San Diego to Monterey.

“June is in the heart of California avocado season when there is peak availability,” said Jan DeLyser, the commission’s vice president of marketing. “We’re proud that this is our tenth year celebrating California avocado month and working with Chef Arrington and others to help push the incremental avocado sales that accompany the season.”

Arrington gets inspiration for her recipes from art and her African American and Korean background, according to the commission. She has also been celebrated throughout her career for using farm fresh, locally and responsibly sourced ingredients.

“It’s hard narrowing down the recipes when California avocados have countless possibilities,” she said. “However, I love when they are paired with complementing flavors. These California avocados definitely hold their own by leveling up any dish and giving an extra wow factor, making it a California chef’s key ingredient.”

The first anniversary recipe is California Avocado Crab & Tuna Stack, which features a layered stack of California avocados, crab and ahi tuna, which are combined with heirloom tomato, English cucumber and spices. 

The second recipe is a fresh and light salad featuring summer produce, Grilled California Avocado & Peach Salad. The grilled fruits are combined on a bed of arugula and crispy quinoa, then paired with a tangy pistachio-arugula vinaigrette.

In addition to advertising and consumer public relations activities, the Commission activity in June will include email outreach to nearly 200,000 dedicated California avocado fans as well as social media support. 

Dietitian activities that promote avocado nutrition information and feature the California avocado brand complement the program. Mascha Davis, MPH, RDN, will have an Instagram story with a giveaway on her channel that also will feature her new recipe for Avocado Goat Cheese Truffle Pops. Manuel Villacorta, MS, RDN, created five delicious California avocado smoothies recipes. Via his channels on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, Villacorta will post a series of three videos featuring the avocado smoothies and how they can be used as part of one’s weight management.

Customized retailer promotions for California Avocado Month in June include use of California avocado display bins, sales contests, digital advertising, social media tie-ins and more.