Lessn 2 Cultivatin f an Avcad Grafting On average, it takes an avcad plant prduced frm a seed, eight t 20 years t prduce avcads. Fr that reasn, cmmercial avcad varieties (scin varieties) are grafted nt rtstcks (rtstck varieties). The cmbinatin will then bear fruit much sner, ften within tw years after rchard planting. Grafting als cmbines the best characteristics f the scin and rtstck varieties. The right cmbinatin can imprve the tree s resistance/tlerance t diseases and pests, and result in early preccius fruiting. Pllinatin Avcad prductivity is influenced by many factrs. Perhaps the critical first step is the prcess f pllinatin that leads t fertilizatin and fruit set. Pllinatin ccurs when pllen is depsited n a receptive stigma. The avcad s flwering behavir is unusual in many ways. The mature tree can prduce in excess f a millin flwers during the flwering perid (which yield 100-300 avcads, meaning nly ne flwer in 10,000 becmes an avcad). The flwers ccur in panicles f several dzen t hundreds f flwers. There are tw different types f avcad flwer heads: determinate and indeterminate. In a determinate flwer head, the tip f the sht that bears the flwers will end in a flwer. Indeterminate flwer heads terminate with a vegetative bud. The avcad flwer has bth functinal male and female rgans. The male flral rgan, which prduces pllen, is cmprised f the anthers and stamens. The female flral rgan is cmprised f the stigma (which receives the pllen), style and the vary. The avcad exhibits a type f flwering behavir knwn as "synchrnus dichgamy." An individual flwer will be pen fr 2 days; hwever, the timing f the male and female phases is distinct. When the flwer first pens it is in the female phase and the stigma is receptive t pllen. At the end f the female phase, which lasts 2 t 4 hurs, the flwer clses. On the secnd day the same flwer re-pens in the male phase and sheds its pllen. The avcad is als unusual in that the timing f the male and female phases differs amng varieties. There are tw flwering types, referred t as "A" and "B" flwer types. "A" varieties pen as female n the mrning f the first day. The flwer clses in late mrning r early afternn. The flwer will remain clsed until the afternn f the secnd day when it pens as male. "B" varieties pen as female n the afternn f the first day, clse in late afternn and re-pen in the male phase the fllwing mrning. Page 7 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
Since there are hundreds f flwers n an avcad tree at any ne time the actual situatin in the field encurages mvement f pllen between the cmplementary flwer types. The avcad s flwering behavir is believed t prmte crss-pllinatin since the male and female phases f an individual flwer ccur at different times. It is believed that the inter-planting f cmplementary flwer types can bst fruit set and therefre yield by making pllen available. Other Interesting Facts Avcad rchards help renew ur air supply and keep it fresh by absrbing carbn dixide and prducing xygen Tw mature avcad trees can prvide enugh xygen fr a family f fur Orchard trees lwer air temperature by evaprating water in their leaves Avcad tree rts stabilize the sil and prevent ersin Avcad rchards can reduce strm run-ff and the pssibility f flding. By slwing run-ff and filtering rain water, rchards can imprve water quality Harvesting the Fruit Unlike mst fruits, the avcad is ne f the very few that des nt ripen n the tree. Grwers can stre their mature fruit n the tree fr several mnths, allwing fr greater cntrl f the harvest vlume. Grwers determine harvest-ready fruit by measuring the dry matter f the flesh (remarkably, the sugar level in avcads decreases as they mature). In rder t ripen prperly ff the tree, Fresh Califrnia Avcads need t reach the minimum il cntent fr the prper balance in flavr and cnsistency. Avcads are harvested by hand with the help f special shears, smetimes using ladders r mechanical platfrms, and picking ples t reach the fruit in tall trees. Pickers place the harvested fruit in large nyln bags which may hld frm 30 t 50 punds f fruit. The harvested avcads are carefully placed in large picking bins that hld 300-900 punds f fruit each. The fruit is transferred by frklift, tractr r trailer frm the grve t a lading area and then hauled t the packing facility. Here the avcads are immediately cled t remve field heat and preserve quality. The pre-cled fruit are then ready fr packing. Each bin f avcads is carefully placed n a cnveyr belt, which gently tips ver the bin, allwing the fruit t rll nt a grading belt, where graders hand check and machines srt the avcads by size. Once srted, the avcads are brushed and washed as they rll int packing tables where they are gently placed int single layer, duble layer r lse-fill cartns. The cartns are sealed, rganized by size and stacked nt pallets. Page 8 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
Califrnia Avcad Varieties Fresh Califrnia Avcads What makes Fresh Califrnia Avcads s creamy and delicius? Ideal grwing cnditins. Suthern Califrnia Avcad grves are blessed with gd sil, prper drainage, abundant sunshine and cl cean breezes - everything an avcad needs t grw up creamy rich and velvety. Fresh Califrnia Avcads let yu knw when they're ripe The great thing abut a Fresh Califrnia Avcad is that its pebbly skin darkens as it ripens and will begin t yield t gentle pressure. Lk fr fruit that is average t large, val-shaped and heavy. Then slice int ne f nature's perfect fds and enjy the silky smth texture and rich nutty flavr in all yur favrite recipes. Fresh Califrnia Avcad Varieties Althugh there are clse t 500 varieties f avcads, eight varieties are grwn cmmercially in Califrnia, and the Hass variety accunts fr apprximately 95 percent f the ttal crp. Organic Califrnia Avcads Many f the varieties listed belw are available as certified rganic fruit. BACON A mid-winter green variety A green-skinned variety f gd quality, the Bacn is a medium-sized fruit available late-fall int spring Descriptin: Oval-shaped fruit Medium t large seed Easy peeling Light taste Medium, ranging frm 6 t 12 unces Smth thin green skin Yellw-green flesh Skin remains green, darkens slightly Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe Page 9 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
FUERTE An established favrite Harvested late fall thrugh spring, the Fuerte is the riginal high-quality Califrnia Avcad Descriptin: Pear-shaped Medium seed Peels easily Great taste Medium t large fruit, ranging frm 5 t 14 unces Smth thin green skin Creamy, pale green flesh Skin remains green Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe GWEN The Hass-like green variety Gwen is similar in appearance, taste and texture t Hass, but slightly larger Descriptin: Plump val fruit Small t medium seed Easy peeling Great taste Medium t large, ranging frm 6 t 15 unces Pebbly, thick but pliable green skin Creamy, gld-green flesh Green skin turns dull Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe Page 10 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
HASS The year-rund avcad Distinctive fr its skin that turns frm green t purplishblack when ripe. The Hass is the leading variety f Califrnia Avcad and has an excellent shelf life Descriptin: Oval-shaped fruit Small t medium seed Easy peeling Great taste Full range frm average t large, 5 t 12 unces Pebbly, thick but pliable skin Pale green flesh with creamy texture Skin darkens as it ripens Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe LAMB HASS The Califrnia summer sun variety Exceptinal flavr and a large rbust size are the hallmark f this new avcad variety Descriptin: Pebbly skin with pale green flesh Smth, creamy, nutty taste Large in size Symmetrical in shape; displays exceptinally well Ranges in size frm 11.75 z. t 18.75 z. 32 = 11.75 z. t 14.00 z. 28 = 13.75 z. t 15.75 z. 24 = 15.75 z. t 18.75 z. Page 11 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
Lks and ripens like a Hass avcad Oval shape Medium-size seed Skin darkens as it ripens Yields t gentle pressure when ripe PINKERTON A premium winter variety Pinkertn avcads have small seeds, yield mre fruit per tree and are available in a full range f sizes early winter thrugh spring Descriptin: Lng, pear-shaped fruit Small seed Excellent peeling characteristics Great taste Large fruit, ranging frm 8 t 18 unces Medium thick green skin with slight pebbling Creamy, pale green flesh Green skin deepens in clr as it ripens Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe REED The summertime variety A large, rund fruit available in the summer mnths and early fall Descriptin: Rund fruit Medium seed Easy peeling Gd taste Page 12 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice
Medium t large, ranging frm 8 t 18 unces Thick green skin with slight pebbling Creamy flesh Skin remains green Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe ZUTANO A seasn pener Easily recgnized by its shiny, yellw-green skin, the Zutan is ne f the first varieties harvested when the seasn begins in September and is available thrugh early winter Descriptin: Pear-shaped fruit Mderately easy t peel Light taste Average t large fruit, ranging frm 6 t 14 unces Shiny, thin yellw-green skin Pale green flesh with light texture Skin retains clr when ripe Fruit yields t gentle pressure when ripe Page 13 f 62 2014 Califrnia Avcad Cmmissin www.califrniaavcad.cm/fdservice