31 Green Facts about Avocados

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published March 7, 2018

Contrary to common belief, avocados are berries, not vegetables._[17]
Avocados have more protein than any other fruit._[17]
Brazilians like to add avocados to not only sandwiches and salads, but also to ice cream._[17]
While avocados mature on the tree, they only ripen once they are picked._[17]
"Avocado hand" happens when people underestimate how ripe their avocado is while cutting through it. The knife goes right through the avocado—and then right through their hand, sometimes causing irreparable damage to tendons and tissue._[7]
The word "guacamole" is from the Aztec word "āhuacamolli," which literally means "avocado sauce."_[21]

Unpollinated avocado blossoms create the seedless cocktail avocados

A "cocktail" avocado is an avocado that does not contain a pit. The entire cocktail avocado can be eaten, even the skin._[17]
The Hass avocado is the most commonly known and popular type of avocado worldwide. The green fruit is named after Rudolph Hass, who discovered the variety in his backyard in California and patented it in 1935._[17]
The avocado is also known as "alligator pear," "midshipman's butter," "vegetable butter," or sometimes "butter pear."_[2]
Mexico produces more avocados than any other country in the world._[17]
Brazilians and Indonesians love to eat avocados with chocolate syrup._[9]
The avocado is the state fruit of California, and over 95% of the United States' avocado supply is grown in Southern California._[17]
In 2016, the global production of avocados was over 5.6 million tonnes._[4]
Fossil records show that a variety of avocado was widespread millions of years ago._[17]
The Aztecs believed avocados were so sexually powerful that virgins were banned from eating them._[16]

For the Aztecs, an avocado was a forbidden fruit

Spain is the only European country that produces avocados._[19]
A favorite dish in Chile is a hot dog topped with sauerkraut, mayonnaise, and avocado._[12]
Placing a banana or apple in a brown bag with an avocado will make the avocado ripen faster. Bananas and apples release ethylene gas, a naturally occurring plant hormone that speeds up the process._[1]
In the United States, the Chipotle restaurant chain uses 97,000 pounds of avocados per day._[14]
On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans eat over eight million pounds (4 million kg) of guacamole._[15]

There's no such thing as too much guac

Approximately 75% of an avocado's energy comes from fat._[3]
The avocado has an extra large seed because it evolved at the time of now-extinct megafauna, such as the giant armadillo. The fruit had to be big enough to attract these large animals, and the seed needed to be hardy enough to withstand their digestive systems._[18]
Mexican cartels make over $152 million a year from manipulating the avocado market._[13]
It takes about 220 gallons of water to grow one large avocado._[10]
The word "avocado" is from the Aztec word for "testicle."_[8]
Avocados are in the same plant family as cinnamon and stinkwood._[6]

Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to horses

Avocados are toxic to horses; they can cause respiratory distress, heart failure, and death._[20]
While bananas are known for being rich in potassium, avocados have even more. A single avocado has 975 milligrams, while a banana only has 487 milligrams._[1]
In 1989, U.S. avocado consumption was around 1.1 pounds (.5 kg) per person each year. Now Americans devour over seven pounds (3.1 kg) per person each year._[11]
Eating foods high in monounsaturated fats (such as avocados and nuts) is linked to higher general intelligence and better brain connectivity._[5]
Topping off a salad with one-half cup of avocados adds 117 calories to the meal._[11]