Things You Should Know: The Avocado
The avocado is native to the Caribbean, Mexico, South and North America. The earliest evidence of an avocado was in a cave in Puebla, Mexico. The word avocado comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacatl which means testicle.
Plants
The avocado tree is hard to breed. The plant can self-pollinate although it does not happen all the time due to dichogamy. Most cultivators use a form of grafting where the pant is spliced to adapt to a new one implanted in its stalk. The plant is also unusual in the fact that the flowering phases differ between male and female plant. These two different types are classified as “A” and “B” cultivars. Here are some of the types:
“A” cultivars open female the first morning of flowering, close, and reopen male the next day in the morning. These are Haas, Gwen, Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, and Reed cultivars.
“B” cultivars open female in the afternoon, close, and reopen male the following morning. These are Fuerte, Sharwil, Zutano, Bacon, Ettinger, Sir Prize, Walter Hole cultivars.
95% of the avocados you buy in the US are from California. The most common variety is the Haas. All of these trees seed from or graft from the Haas mother tree. The Haas name is from the mail carrier Rudolph Haas, who patented the tree in 1935. The rich nutty flavor and cold tolerant plant has become a favorite.
Health
High consumption of avocados has shown to lower cholesterol levels. Studies have also shown natural antibacterial ingredients. The fruit does contain oil, which promotes healthy skin and hair. As far as nutrition, the avocado is mostly monounsaturated fat, is rich in potassium and have plenty B, E, and K vitamins.
Guac
There are many ways to enjoy avocados, one of the most common is the guacamole dip. Simply add lime juice, chopped cilantro, salt, pepper, and mashed avocado to create purist guacamole. Other ingredients can be added.
You can also try growing your own avocado plant in your house. Just get a seed, stick toothpicks in the side and set on a glass filled with water so the bottom is submerged. You wont have to worry about relocating for a while, the tree takes 3 years to produce fruit.
