Never tried avocado? You have GUAC to be kidding me!

Avocados have raged in popularity over the past decade, but they’ve been around for ages! In fact, avocados are an ancient crop. Avocados were first cultivated in South America and are now mainly grown in California and Mexico. Avocados grow on trees - like apples, peaches, and plums - and each tree can produce up to 400 avocados a year! However, even though avocados grow like fruits, they are considered a vegetable according to MyPlate because of their nutrients, savory flavor, and similar preparation to other vegetables.

Avocados have a green outer skin and a lighter yellow-green flesh. The darker the avocado skin, the riper it is. Try to choose avocados with a dark green, almost purple skin that are slightly soft to touch – that means that they are ready to be enjoyed! In the middle of the avocado is a large, brown pit. Make sure to safely remove the pit before using the vegetable. When ripe, avocados have a mild, creamy taste. Avocados are extremely versatile – from guacamole to salad to smoothies, avocados add a delicious, buttery kick to any dish!

Beyond tasting delicious, avocados are great for your health. This vegetable is packed with fiber to aid digestion, Vitamin E to promote healthy skin and hair, pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) to help convert food to energy, and potassium to manage blood pressure! Avocados are also packed with monounsaturated fatty acids – the heart healthy fat - just be mindful of your portion size!

There are many different types of avocados. The most familiar variety in the United States is the Hass avocado; meanwhile, there are over 100 varieties. You can find avocados in the produce section of most supermarkets all year-round.

Now that you know all of this information - how will you enjoy avocado?