Avocado
Avo season extends from March to November, so varieties of home-grown avocados are available for a large part of the year.
Avocados will ripen in 2 – 7 days, stored in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple.
Hass
A smallish, roundish or egg-shaped fruit with a thick, green, pebbly skin changing purple/black when ripe. The bruise-resistant skin offers a longer shelf-life. It has a rich, nutty flavour.
Fuerte
A popular SA avocado, it is medium-sized, pear-shaped, sometimes with a long, thinner neck. The skin is smooth and thin and stays green coloured when ripe.
Pinkerton
An American cultivar that is distinguished from other varieties through its definite thickish neck. It has thick, rough green skin that stays green when ripe.
Edranol
The Edranol is an oval fruit with thick olive green, glossy skin with small black speckles (called lenticels).
Ryan
The least popular of the SA varieties. It's a heavy, egg-shaped fruit with a green, slightly rough skin and large pip.
ABOUT AVOCADOS
- Did you know that avocados are one of the Top 10 most sold products at Woolworths?
- Did you know that avos are rich in vitamins A, C and E, known to assist in various essential cellular functions and in delaying diseases such as heart disease and many types of cancer?
- Did you know that avos contain no cholesterol and are high in mono-unsaturated fat?
- Did you know that’s avos have a high level of folate, which is essential for the development of the foetus, making them a great fruit for pregnant women?
- Did you know that avos are rich in vitamin B6 , which helps reduce stress?
- Did you know that half an avo contains 161 calories, less than 30g of cheese and 20 calories less than a small bag of peanuts?
- Did you know that the avo has been awarded the South African Heart Foundation’s Heart Mark in recognition of its capacity to reduce the risk of coronary disease?
- Did you know that avo’s are also full of potassium, a mineral necessary for maintaining the right balance of water in the body?
QUICK IDEAS USING AVOCADOS
Click here for some easy ways to incorporate avocados in your meals