HASS AVOCADOS

GENERALITIES
Family: Lauracea.
Species: Persea americana.
Origin: México and Guatemala.
Principle Producers: Mexico, Peru, Chile, Usa, Kenya, South Africa.

The avocado has been described by many as one of the most nutritious fruits of nature. The Spanish word “Aguacate” apparently comes from the word of Nahuatl origin: ‘Ahuacatl’: From this name we get the derivations of "Avocado" in English, in Dutch: "Advocate", or "Avocat" in German, "Abakete" and "Abacate" in Portuguese. Another name used in some South American countries like Chile, is “Palta”.

The genus Persea (Clus.) Miller belongs to the family Lauraceae, the Persea americana Mill species also belongs to this genus and within this group are the varieties currently marketed as avocado: the Persea americana var. American Mill, which is the West Indian avocado, the variety drymifolia Blake (or Mexican avocado) and the variety guatemalensis Williams, which is the avocado found in Guatemala.

Avocadoes are also differentiated by geographical ecotypes. Mexican and Guatemalan avocados are characterized by their tolerance for very low temperatures and are adapted to well-drained soils with a deep water table. While the Avocados known as Antillean are adapted to tropical zones and plains with hot and dry climates.

The Hass avocado has been described as a variety of Guatemalan predominantly. It is self-fertile, from trees with a good rate of production, the fruits are of good quality and are suited to storage, they are medium in size, ranging from 90 to 400 grams per unit and they are ovate, 8 to 12 cm in length. The Hass has a rugged shell, which is green and turns black when ripe as a normal condition.

The great genetic variability of avocados is expressed throughout the world in a broad environmental adaptation. The continuous interaction between the genetic constitution of the tree itself and its constantly changing environment, determines the destiny of many of the processes occurring during flowering and the formation of the fruit.

In Colombia, the avocado can grow from sea level to 2,500 metres in mountain areas. In the case of Hass avocados, it is said that the best yield is achieved between 1,600 and 2,200 m.