CAMBRIA - Cal Poly's College of Agriculture and Mission Produce are partnering to create a 50-acre avocado orchard on campus that will serve as a teaching tool and a profitable venture.

Mission Produce, a Ventura avocado and avocado products company with annual sales of more than $100 million, is currently planting 6,400 avocado trees on 50 acres at Cal Poly. Mission Produce CEO Steve Barnard, a Cal Poly alumnus, was on campus last week for the start of planting.

Cal Poly President Warren Baker, College of Agriculture Dean David Wehner and Associate Dean of Agriculture Mark Shelton toured the orchard with Barnard.

Mission Produce is providing orchard management and harvesting crews, as well as state-of-the-art irrigation and orchard-care systems. Cal Poly is providing the land and water for the orchard.

The company will make a donation to Cal Poly's College of Agriculture at the end of each harvest based on proceeds from avocado sales.

The new Mission Produce orchard will offer students the chance to learn first-hand about large-scale commercial avocado operation and integrated marketing practices, according to Shelton.