Avocado History

Compiled by Matt T.

Archeology: Tehuacan, Mexico 7000 BC

History: Wild variety was cultivated as early as 750 BC ! Later cultivated in Mexico in 500 BC. Seeds were found buried with INCA Mummies in Peru, South America.

Name: Aguacate, evolved to avocado. First English listing by Sir Henry Sloan, Royal Society of England 1696

Locations: Semi-tropical of North and South America; some areas of Southern Europe. Recently expanded to Israel, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

First introduction to United States was in 1833 in Florida by Judge Henry Perrine. Second and most successful introduction was by Judge R B Ord of Santa Barbara, Ca. of trees secured in Mexico in 1871.

Association: "Calavos" – California Avocado 1926. Calavos is an organization of Avocado Growers.

Other Facts:

California is by far the largest producing area in the United States, generating 95 % of the harvested crop.

Avocados are grown from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.

Carpinteria Valley is a major contributor to the avocado crop.

Carpinteria’s annual Avocado Harvest Festival is visited by thousands of celebrators.

There are over 80 varieties of avocados with the " Hass " version being dominate at 85 % of production.

The Hass variety was discovered by a California postman, named Rudolf Hass.

The original " Hass " tree is located in La Habra and is still growing.

A single tree can produce up to 400 fruit each year.

In the coastal California micro - climate the fruit is produced all year.

Avocados Nutrients: Unsaturated fats, no-choelesteral, rich in dietary fiber and vitimins such as folacin, A, B6, C and minerals.

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