Avocado
Avocado
Avocado
Eat avocado and earn a
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Avocado
Here's a dare-eat an alligator pear!

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Fun Facts

The mighty avocado is a fruit -- a single-seeded berry. Its name comes from the Spanish word aguacate. Avocados are also called alligator pears because of their rough skin and distinctive pear shape. Native to Mexico and Central America, avocados have been around for thousands of years, and every one of them is still picked by hand! Hass is the most popular variety -- it was discovered in California in the 1930s in the backyard of Rudolph Haas. In the U.S., avocados are eaten with other food or mashed into guacamole. In Brazil, avocados are made into sweet treats, especially avocado ice cream!

Star Power

Avocados are filled with monounsaturated fats - the good fats - that lower oxidative stress in the blood, which helps keep the cardiovascular system in tip top shape. These fleshy fruits also help the body absorb more fat-soluble nutrients -- like immune-strengthening carotenoids -- when eaten with greens like kale, chard, carrots or spinach. Antioxidants and vitamins reduce inflammation and help create glowing skin, and tons of B vitamins work to fight infections. Did you know that avocados contain more protein than any other fruit?

Quick Preps

PREPARE:

  1. Cut slightly soft, ripe avocado lengthwise around the seed, then twist to open into two halves.
  2. Cut the halves in half, scoop out the seed and peel the skin off.
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Fun Tip

Call avocados alligator pears, alligator eggs or avocado bowls! Plant or sprout the avocado seed and watch it grow!

Star-Powered Recipe

5 star dinner Eggocados
Eggocados

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • 4 eggs
  • Sea salt and black pepper

Method

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Slice avocados in half and take out the pits.
  • Scoop out a little of every avocado so one egg will fit in each one.
  • Place the avocado halves in small baking dishes.
  • Crack one egg into each half of avocado.
  • Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the egg is done to your liking.
  • Remove, season with sea salt and black pepper to taste, and enjoy!
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How to Store

Sliced: Wrap each piece tightly with plastic wrap or place in airtight container before refrigerating for no more than three days.|To freeze: Peel and purée avocados, then add ½ tablespoon of lemon or lime juice to prevent browning. Place in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to six months

Whole:Store at room temperature until ripe or slightly soft when lightly poked. To speed up the ripening process, place avocado in a brown paper bag on the counter alone or with an apple or banana. The gasses trapped in the bag speed up the ripening process.|Once ripe, place in plastic and bag and put in the fridge for up to five days.|To freeze, follow instructions above.

How It Grows

Avocados grow on trees that are 65 feet tall. That's taller than a house!

Peak Seasons

Year round

Varieties

Haas, Fuerte, Lulu, Taylor, Booth, Choquette, Lamb, Ettinger, Brogden, Zutano, Pinkerton, Gwen

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