Avocados have been dated back to 8000 B.C.
The Hass avocado was first bred by Californian Rudolph Hass in the 1930s. It is now one of the most commonly found varieties of avocado in North America. As of March 2011, in California alone, 90 percent of avocados are Hass, and harvesting reaches a peak in June. It is a widely used fruit in salads, guacamole or sandwiches. It is easiest to identify this type of avocado by actually holding it so you can feel its texture and identify its color.
Instructions
1. Look at the shape of the fruit you are holding. Avocados are large pear shapes, and can be held in one hand.
2. Stroke the surface of the fruit with a finger. Feel the texture it has. A Hass avocado has a rough, uneven outer surface unlike other varieties which are smooth to touch. The surface almost resembles the bark of a tree.
3. Identify the color of the fruit. Hass avocado are very dark green in color, and in bad light can even appear black. If the fruit is overripe, it will actually be black with indentations in its surface. Other varieties of avocado are more vibrant shades of green.
4. Cut the fruit in half. The inside flesh of a Hass avocado is light green, with a darker edge around its perimeter. The stone is also light greenish or yellowy in color, and can often be brown too. If the flesh is overripe, blotches of brown or black are seen on it and it will be very mushy.
5. Compare the fruit against other types of avocado. Use its shape, texture and color to identify that it is in fact a Hass avocado.
Tags: Hass avocado, varieties avocado
