Gabriella Stewart Nutrition 210 T/TR 8am Professor C.

Betty Crocker

In 1871, a judge by the name of R.B. Ord from Santa Barbara, California introduced avocado trees to the United States. Originating in La Habra, California, the Hass avocado has been the most popular over the last 40 years. California remains responsible for over 90 percent of the nations crop.

Today, nearly 5,000 growers from San Luis Obispo to San Diego harvest on around 52,000 acres of land. Avocados are grown year round and only ripen after being harvested. Provides excellent sources of fiber, omega-6 fatty acids, and vitamins niacin and folate

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These are my DRI goals. As you can see, I need 12 grams of Omega-6, 25 grams of Fiber, 1.3 milligrams of B-6, 400 micrograms of Folate.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Promotes brain function and growth as well as reduces inflammation. Fiber: Decreases the chance of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases. B-6: Assist in the metabolism of mainly protein, but also fat and carbohydrates. Folate: Helps produce and maintain cells.

As you can see, avocados provide excellent sources of these vitamins as well as a good source of other vitamins and minerals.

Mediterranean climate optimal. Growing is fairly simple in that anyone can plant an avocado seed in their backyard given the correct amount of space, necessary climate, care, and time. In the case of California Avocado growers, a large span of land with an intricate irrigation system is essential. .

Chemicals such as nitrogen and fertilizers can be dispensed through these irrigation systems, and are regulated locally for environmental safety.

Cross-pollination between A and B flowers ensures maximum production.

The process of growing is lengthy, taking anywhere from 7-15 years for a tree to produce. Leaves from the plant can be tested to determine the health of the tree. Minimum oil levels are used to establish maturity, which is regulated by California State law

The California Avocado Commission has existed since 1978. With a budget of about 15 million a year, the commission is responsible for overseeing the wellbeing of the states avocado farms and growers.

In order to assist their research, the California Avocado Commission has held a partnership with UC Riverside for over 20 years. The focal point of research has proven to be adding variety to the spectrum of avocado breeds. With the progression of research and technology, the CAC still lacks the funds and support to genetically engineer a new breed of avocados. Not only are funds and support lacking, but guidelines and welldefined objectives seem to be absent from the commissions research endeavors.

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Because so many farmers are on a large amount of land, finding an effective, inexpensive, clean, and environmentally sound way to sustain their trees is a necessity. Many participate in their local city councils. For example, Duncan and Robert Abbott of Carpinteria have built their avocado farm based on the fundamental ideologies of environmentalists. The Abbotts are like many other California growers, becoming active in their local communities in regards to environmental practices. Growers like the Abbotts, Gene Bianchi, and Sam McIntyre just to name a few are among those who strive for an environmentally sound water irrigation system by getting involved with local councils and staying up to date with technology.

http://www.avocado.org/browse-all-grower-videos

California Avocados are harvested once a year from Spring through the Fall. They are picked by hand and sent to a packing house where they are placed in a cold storage for 24 hours for preservation. They are then sorted and checked twice for quality before being packed for shipment. anywhere from three for $1.00 to one for $1.35.

From the packing house, they are transported in refrigerated trucks to your local grocery store (international shipments). Depending on availability, you can find a Hass Avocado at your local grocery store anywhere from three for $1.00 to one for $1.35.

Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable, belonging to the genus Persea in the Lauraceae family Avocados are sodium and cholesterol-free and have only five grams of fat per serving, most of it the monounsaturated kind Avocados were once a luxury food reserved for the tables of royalty, but now California Avocados are enjoyed around the world by people from all walks of life Brazilians add avocados to ice cream Filipinos puree avocados with sugar and milk for a dessert drink The avocado is also called an Alligator Pear because of its pear-like shape and green skin Avocado is a corruption of the Spanish word aguacate, which is in turn a corruption of the Aztec word ahuacatl San Diego County is the Avocado Capital of the U.S., producing 60 percent of all the avocados grown in California There are seven varieties of avocados grown commercially in California, but the Hass is the most popular, accounting for approximately 95 percent of the total crop volume About 43 percent of all U.S. households buy avocados

www.avocados.org

For a main dish using avocado, use: 2/3 cup of black beans, rinsed and drained cup corn, drained cup of packaged shredded carrots, lightly packed cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves cup prepared chunky salsa 2 green onions, thinly sliced 10 drops of red pepper sauce 2 ripe Hass avocados, cut in half and seeded 4 small bunches of radish or alfalfa sprouts 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice.

Combine beans, corn, carrots, cilantro, salsa, green onion, lemon and red pepper sauce in a bowl. Fill each avocado shell with of bean mixture. Garnish with sprouts and serve.

www.avocados.org http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/crops/i_a vocad.htm http://www.californiaavocadogrowers.com/assets/Up loads/Growers-Site/Production-ResearchNews/Avocado-Plant-Breeding-Review.pdf http://www.californiaavocadosociety.org/growing.ht ml http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Com_Ag/Subtropical/Avoc ado_Handbook/Fertilization/Avocado_Leaf_Analysis_ Guide/