It's definitely not a secret that here on the farm we love avocados and I like to think that most people would agree. With around 90% of the U.S. avocado crops coming from California this fatty fruit, yes I said fruit, is easily found in most supermarkets and farmers' markets. With hundreds of different varieties it's quite hard to choose a favorite but here is a small list of our favorites and maybe this will narrow down your choices.
Hass Avocado (April-October)
This avocado is probably one of the most famous avocado varieties. It has a very intense buttery, nutty flavor with skin that turns from green to a dark purplish-black as it ripens. One cool fact about this variety is that it comes from one single mother tree that was grown by Rudolph Hass in 1926 from Whittier, California. It is most commonly used to make guacamole.
Bacon Avocado (November-March)
These avocados which are named after Mr. James Bacon have a similar taste to the Hass but thinner skin, are less oily but still have that buttery and creamy texture which makes them great for guacamole, smoothies, and salads.
Fuerte Avocado (August-October)
The Fuerte avocado is the second largest commercial variety behind Hass. It is slightly oily with a rich, creamy flavor and notes of hazelnut, is still thought by most to be the best-flavored avocado. The name Fuerte, which means "strong" or "hardy" in Spanish, was given to this variety because it lived through the great freeze of 1913 in Los Angeles. The high fat content of this avocado combines great with most acidic fruit, vegetables, and acidic dressings.
Ettinger Avocado (October-March)
Last but not least, another widely cultivated avocado is the Ettinger avocado. It has a mild flavor and lower fat content than other varieties, perfect for smoothies, sauces, and blended recipes.
With all that in mind, when choosing your next avocado just try to think about how you are going to use it. The great fat content of an avocado could be the missing ingredient from turning a basic dish into an amazing dish.
Luckily for our CSA members this week you are going to be able to start your avocado adventures with amazing Bacon Avocados from Good Land Organics. If you would like to subscribe to our CSA check out our website where you can choose from one of our three plans.