Avocados: The Prized Fruit
As temperatures rise and the spring rain clouds disappear from the sky, we can assume one thing, summer is finally upon us. And the new season provides us with a great luxury — the avocado. This small, dark and green fruit — yes, a fruit, not a vegetable — is incredibly popular in the United States, with residents having eaten about 4 billion of them since 2000. Small but mighty, avocados are the primary ingredient in an abundance of favorite foods, including the widely popularized avocado toast and delicious guacamole. Let’s learn a bit more about these green gems.
- While grown in many regions of the world, about 66 percent of the avocados in our grocery stores and markets are imported from our neighbors in Mexico, a prime location for the growth of this particular fruit that can withstand cold and harsh weather.
- Just north of the border, our home state of California is also home to a wide range of avocado farms along the coast, including several right in San Luis Obispo County. Morro Bay’s Shanley Farms and Morro Creek Ranch, and Cambria’s Stepladder Ranch & Creamery are just a few of the many avocado grounds here.
- How an avocado ripens depends on where it is grown. Those in Florida are firmer and lower in fat than ones grown in Mexico, which are softer and smoother in texture.
- Avocados provide a significant amount of health benefits. With daily avocado consumption come high levels of potassium and many other vitamins and minerals that are crucial to health. Avocados are extremely rich in potassium, beating bananas (the fruit most known to contain a high level of the mineral), two servings to one.
- Let’s talk about the environment. Increasing the number of avocado orchards simultaneously improves oxygen levels in the atmosphere and reduces carbon emissions. Avocado trees also lower air temperatures by soaking up water, enriching the soil below them and contributing to sturdy and stable soil, ultimately reducing the risk of fires and natural disasters.
So go ahead, dig into California’s official state fruit. And while you’re at it, pass one to a friend.
