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Peak availability of California-grown avocados may be tapering off as we approach the Fall, but don’t worry — it’s still avocado season in the Golden State!
California is responsible for 90 percent of avocados grown in America. For Hass avocados — the most popular variety in America — those West Coast roots run particularly deep. All Hass avocados date back to a single tree in Orange County, where a mailman named Rudolph Hass planted three seedlings in his backyard in 1926. He thought he was planting Guatemalan Lyon seedlings. Instead, Rudolph had unknowingly received hybrid seedlings whose genetic material included Mexican and Guatemalan varieties. Just one tree survived the planting process, and the avocados it produced were surprisingly rough, with purple-black skin that didn’t resemble the Fuerte avocados he was used to. When the Hass family tasted those homegrown avocados, though, they were impressed with the nutty taste and creamy texture. Can you blame them?
By 1935, Hass had filed for a U.S. plant patent and named this new avocado variety after himself. Although he died in the early 1950s, his legacy lives on. Hass avocados became more popular than the Fuerte variety in 1972 and have remained on top ever since, becoming a billion-dollar business along the way. Meanwhile, the original Hass tree continued to live in that same Orange County backyard for more than 75 years, producing countless seedlings before eventually succumbing to a decade-long battle with root rot in 2002.
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2024-08-19 05:41:42
Karl Hoffman is a distinguished agriculturalist with over four decades of experience in sustainable farming practices. He holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Cornell University and has made significant contributions as a professor at Iowa State University. Hoffman’s groundbreaking research on integrated pest management and soil health has revolutionized modern agriculture. As a respected farm journalist, his column “Field Notes with Karl Hoffman” and his blog “The Modern Farmer” provide insightful, practical advice to a global audience. Hoffman’s work with the USDA and the United Nations FAO has enhanced food security worldwide. His awards include the USDA’s Distinguished Service Award and the World Food Prize, reflecting his profound impact on agriculture and sustainability.
