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Hass avocado

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The Hass avocado is a specific variety of avocado fruit. It is famous for its dark green, bumpy skin. When the fruit reaches ripeness, the skin turns a dark purplish-black color. You can tell it is ripe if the skin yields to gentle pressure. Inside, the flesh is pale green near the skin. It becomes a deeper yellow-green toward the center. This fruit is known for its large size and rich, nutty flavor. It typically weighs between 200 and 300 grams.

Persea americana (Avocado) Sprout 08May2010
Persea americana (Avocado) Sprout 08May2010

Growing this specific variety involves a technical process called grafting. Most commercial Hass avocado trees are not grown from seeds. Instead, they are grown from grafted seedlings. This means growers use cuttings from the original tree to create new ones. This method ensures the new trees are identical to the original. Rudolph Hass first planted three seeds in 1926. These seeds came from A. R. Rideout of Whittier, California. One of those seeds grew into a single, strong seedling. This seedling became the source for all commercial Hass trees today.

There are several important parts to the Hass avocado's success. First, it has a high oil content, which creates a rich flavor. Second, it has a long shelf-life, meaning it stays good for a long time. Third, it offers a high growing yield for farmers. Finally, it allows for year-round harvesting in certain areas. These traits make it much more popular than the Fuerte variety. The Fuerte was the leading commercial cultivar before the Hass became common. The Hass is more plentiful and produces larger fruit than the Fuerte.

The history of the Hass avocado began in La Habra Heights, California. Rudolph Hass was a mail carrier and an amateur horticulturist. He planted his seeds in a 1.5-acre grove in 1926. At first, he tried to graft the seedling with Fuerte branches. These attempts failed at least twice. A professional grafter named Caulkins told Hass the young tree was strong. Hass decided to let it grow instead of cutting it down. His children enjoyed the taste of the odd, bumpy fruit. This led to the first commercial successes in Pasadena, California.

Economic success followed the discovery of this cultivar. In 1935, Rudolph Hass patented the tree. He made a contract with a nurseryman named Harold Brokaw. Brokaw grew and sold the grafted seedlings. He received 75% of the proceeds from these sales. In the early 21st century, the U.S. avocado industry earned over $1 billion annually. This industry relies heavily on the Hass cultivar. In the United States, it accounts for more than 80% of the crop. In California, it makes up 95% of the total avocado crop. It is also the most widely grown avocado in New Zealand.

Science has helped us understand where the Hass avocado came from. A genetic study published by the National Academy of Sciences in 2019 provided answers. The study concluded that the Hass is a cross between two other varieties. It is 61% Mexican and 39% Guatemalan. The original "mother tree" lived a long life of 76 years. It stood in front of a home in La Habra Heights for many years. The tree died in 2002 after fighting a disease called phytophthora, or root rot. People even made jewelry and keepsakes from the wood of that tree.

Growing Hass avocados requires specific environmental conditions. The trees grow best in Southern California. They need good soil and excellent drainage. They also require plentiful sunlight to thrive. Cool, gentle winds from the ocean help the fruit grow. However, the trees have a low tolerance for cold weather. The trees may also follow an "alternate bearing" pattern. This means they might only bear heavy fruit every other year. A very large crop can use up stored carbohydrates. This can cause the next year's yield to be much lower.

Finally, the Hass avocado is a very nutritious food. A raw, peeled avocado is 67% water and 20% fat. It also contains 8% carbohydrates and 2% protein. A standard serving provides 206 calories of food energy. It is a rich source of folate and copper. It provides at least 20% of the Daily Value for these nutrients. It also contains moderate amounts of vitamin B6 and potassium. Additionally, the fruit contains phytosterols and carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin.

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File:Persea americana (Avocado) Sprout 08May2010.JPG
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