Avocados - (Back To Fruit Info)

• To ripen an avocado, place it in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana at room temperature. Another method is to bury the avocado completely in a jar of flour. Do not refrigerate avocados until they are ripe.
• Avocados date back to 8,000 B.C., and are native to Mexico and Central America.
• Until recent years, the avocado had a well-entrenched reputation for inducing sexual prowess and wasn't purchased or consumed by any person wishing to protect their image from slanderous assault. Growers had to sponsor a public relations campaign to dispel the ill-founded reputation before avocados became popular.
• Avocados must reach full maturity before they are picked, but they will not soften on the tree. The tree is actually used as a warehouse; the fruit can be kept on the tree for many months after reaching maturity.

BACON

Usage: Salads, guacamole, dressings.

Selection: The Bacon avocado is green with a smooth skin. Signs of ripeness differ by variety, but all varieties yield to gentle pressure when ripe. (Softer for guacamole, more firm for slicing). To ripen an avocado, place it in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana at room temperature. Another method is to bury the avocado completely in a jar of flour. Do not refrigerate avocados until they are ripe.

Avoid: Avoid extremely soft avocados with very dark or blotchy skin or dented areas. This indicates bruised or old avocados.

FUERTE

Usage: Salads, guacamole, dressings.

Selection: The Fuerte avocado is green with a smooth skin. Signs of ripeness differ by variety, but all varieties yield to gentle pressure when ripe. (Softer for guacamole, more firm for slicing). To ripen an avocado, place it in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana at room temperature. Another method is to bury the avocado completely in a jar of flour. Do not refrigerate avocados until they are ripe.

Avoid: Avoid extremely soft avocados with very dark or blotchy skin or dented areas. This indicates bruised or old avocados.

HASS

Usage: Salads, guacamole, dressings.

Selection: The Hass avocado is dark-colored with a rough and bumpy skin. Most other varieties are more green and have smoother skin. Signs of ripeness differ by variety. Hass varieties will turn black when ripe while other varieties remain green. All varieties yield to gentle pressure when ripe. (Softer for guacamole, more firm for slicing).

Avoid: Avoid avocados with very dark skin combined with dented areas. This indicates bruised or old avocados.

PINKERTON

Usage: Salads, guacamole, dressings.

Selection: The Pinkerton avocado is green with a medium-thick and pebbly skin. Signs of ripeness differ by variety, but all varieties yield to gentle pressure when ripe. (Softer for guacamole, more firm for slicing). To ripen an avocado, place it in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana at room temperature. Another method is to bury the avocado completely in a jar of flour. Do not refrigerate avocados until they are ripe.

Avoid: Avoid extremely soft avocados with very dark or blotchy skin or dented areas. This indicates bruised or old avocados.

ZUTANO

Usage: Salads, guacamole, dressings.

Selection: The Zutano avocado is yellow green with a shiny, smooth skin. Signs of ripeness differ by variety, but all varieties yield to gentle pressure when ripe. (Softer for guacamole, more firm for slicing). To ripen an avocado, place it in a sealed plastic bag with a ripe banana at room temperature. Another method is to bury the avocado completely in a jar of flour. Do not refrigerate avocados until they are ripe.

Avoid: Avoid extremely soft avocados with very dark or blotchy skin or dented areas. This indicates bruised or old avocados.

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