Calavo Growers, Inc. (CVGW)

A significant stock event for Calavo Growers, Inc. was the announcement on January 14, 2026, that Mission Produce, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Calavo. In 2025, Calavo's stock struggled, being down 17% for the year, partly due to an unexpected FDA detention hold in the third quarter of 2025 on certain avocado imports from Calavo's Mexican facility. Additionally, in June 2025, Calavo received an unsolicited and non-binding offer to be acquired for $32 per share, with an update issued in November 2025.

Demand for Calavo Growers' products, particularly fresh produce like avocados, is subject to seasonal fluctuations. The first quarter has been identified as the peak season for avocado retail sales, while the fourth quarter often sees the lowest engagement from avocado shoppers. Domestic avocado production in the U.S. primarily occurs between April and September, with the highest volumes in May, June, and July. Consumer spending on fresh produce generally rises when items are in season, and demand sees a surge during summer months.

Calavo Growers, Inc. is an international consumer goods and farm products company that sources, packs, and distributes fresh avocados, tomatoes, and papayas. It also processes guacamole and other avocado-based products, operating through Fresh and Prepared segments. The majority of its revenue is generated from the Fresh segment and geographically from the United States. Calavo's products are sold under various brands to a diverse customer base worldwide.

Calavo Growers, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Paula, California, and maintains processing plants and packing facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In the United States, Calavo has facilities and distribution centers in California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Texas. Internationally, Calavo has operations in Mexico, including a fresh avocado packing plant and an avocado processing unit in Michoacán, and another packinghouse in Jalisco. The company sources avocados from key growing regions including California, Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, and its distribution network extends to customers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Calavo Growers has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in quality produce and a trusted name in fresh and prepared foods, emphasizing sustainable practices and market growth. The company has also announced new ESG strategies and commitments in late 2022. However, the company's reputation was likely impacted by the temporary FDA detention of certain avocado imports in the third quarter of 2025 due to the detection of an unapproved fungicide.

Calavo Growers, Inc. has a mixed ownership structure comprising institutional investors, individual investors (insiders and retail), and public shareholders. Institutional investors hold a significant portion of Calavo's stock, with major holders including BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc. Insider ownership typically ranges from about 6.01% to 27.03% of total outstanding shares, with top individual insider holders including Lecil E. Cole, J Link Leavens, and Steve Hollister. Retail investors hold approximately 4.50% to 33.86% of the stock.