
Avocado: plant
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The avocado , whose scientific name is Persea americana, is a tree species native to Central America (Mexico and Guatemala) that later spread to the United States (California), Australia, New Zealand and the Mediterranean basin, particularly Israel and Spain. The avocado has a very ancient history, in fact traces of its use date back to 7,000-8,000 BC in Mexico, in the Tehucán region.
The avocado plant: characteristics
The avocado plant , belonging to the Lauraceae family, is divided into the Mexican, Antillean and Guatemalan races, distinguishable by some characteristics of the leaves (even if today the varieties used are hybrids).The avocado tree can grow up to 20 meters, is characterized by a grayish bark, a broad crown, perennial (evergreen) leaves about 20 centimeters long and oval in shape.
Avocado Plant: Fruits
The avocado fruit is technically an oval or pear-shaped drupe. When ripe , depending on the cultivar, it becomes black-purple (e.g. Avocado Hass variety) or green, with a weight that varies from 100 grams up to 1000 grams in the case of large avocado fruits. The surface of the fruit can be smooth or wrinkled. The avocado is a climacteric fruit, as it ripens after being detached from the plant over a period of about 5/6 days.
The avocado seed is unique, generally with a diameter of 3-5 centimeters, in some varieties it detaches easily from the pulp when ripe.
Avocado Varieties
The main varieties of the avocado plant are hybrids of Mexican and Guatemalan races. Among these, the following can be mentioned.
- Hass avocado : of Californian origin, it is the most widespread avocado cultivar in the world due to its organoleptic characteristics that make it the most appreciated by consumers. The Hass avocado fruit has an oval-pear shape, with a green skin that becomes dark when ripe, while the pulp is yellow with a high oil content (about 20%). The weight varies from 150 to 300 grams. The harvest, in the southern hemisphere (Peru, Mexico, etc.), takes place from April to July, in the northern hemisphere (Italy, Spain, etc.) from December to April.
Hass avocado
- Avocado Bacon : is an early ripening avocado cultivar, which can be harvested in the period October-November in the Mediterranean basin. The avocado Bacon fruit is oval in shape, with green skin even when fully ripe.
Avocado Bacon
- Avocado Fuerte : is a variety of avocado that has a pear-shaped fruit with a thick green skin and a good quality pulp. Harvesting in the Mediterranean basin takes place between November and February.
Avocado Strong
Other less common avocado varieties are Zutano, Ettinger, Reed and Orotava.
Avocado: Learn more
If you want to know more about avocado, its cultivation, how to eat it and how to buy our organic avocados produced in Calabria read here:
If you are interested in receiving more information about the avocado plant and its cultivation, contact us at info@locroi.com .