Description/Taste
Hass avocados have a pebbly skin that ripens from green to deep purple or nearly black, and they can vary in size from 5 to 12 ounces. Although the skin is thick, it is relatively easy to peel. The flesh closest to the skin is pale green, and as it nears the medium-sized central stone it develops a yellow undertone. The flesh is soft, creamy, and barely fibrous, with good oil content. The flavor is rich and nutty with a slightly sweet finish.
Seasons/Availability
Hass avocados are available year-round.
Current Facts
The Hass avocado has become the standard avocado for commercial production worldwide thanks to its long growing seasons, prolific production, and higher shipping tolerance and shelf life due to its thick skin. Hass avocados make up for approximately eighty percent of the avocados consumed across the globe.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The Hass avocado originated in California, which produces nearly 90 percent of the United State’s avocado crop. Almost every Hass avocado around the world can trace its lineage to the original Hass Mother Tree that was planted in California in the 1920s, and launched millions more trees before it died in 2002.
Geography/History
The Hass variety was discovered growing from a chance seedling in La Habra Heights, California, in the 1920s by California postman, Rudolph Hass, who had purchased and planted seedlings from A.R. Rideout. After realizing the high-yields and quality of the fruit, Rudolph patented the Hass avocado in 1935, however that did not stop prospective growers from purchasing a tree of the patented variety then re-grafting their grove with bud wood from that single Hass avocado tree. Today, Hass avocados are grown commercially around the world, including California, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Chile and New Zealand.
