Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Avocados
Avocados
Contents
1. Key Facts
2. Introduction
3. Foodborne Outbreaks and Recalls
4. Production
5. Food Safety
6. Consumption
7. Nutrition
8. References
Key Facts
Avocado trees are native to the humid, sub-tropical and tropical regions of central and
northern South America. They never go dormant.
Nearly 90% of avocado production in the United States takes place in California.
Avocados are harvested by hand and start to ripen once they are picked from the tree.
Commercial food safety practices for avocados have recently been strengthened due to
the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) microbiological surveillance sampling of
avocados and select avocado products.
Between 2000 and 2020, at least 14 avocado-associated outbreaks were reported to
CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS), causing 205 illnesses, 18
hospitalizations, and 1 death.
Two of the most recent avocado-related recalls occured in 2018 and 2019 due to
possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.
Pathogens associated with avocado outbreaks and recalls
include Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
Introduction
The avocado tree (Persea americana) is a tropical evergreen tree with three horticultural races:
Guatemalan, Mexican, and West Indian. Trees can reach up to 60 feet (18 meters) tall and grow
throughout the year; they do not enter a dormant state. The timing and length for each crop cycle
depends mostly on temperature so crop development dates vary by location and from year to year.
Florida avocado (left) and Hass avocado (right). Photo by:
thegardeningcook.com
The avocado was first domesticated in the United States by Henry Perrine in 1833 in Florida. There
are more than 56 types of Florida avocados which are classified into three categories: summer, fall,
and winter. The summer fruit has a bright green, smooth, thin skin whereas the fall and winter
varieties are also bright green but have thicker, rough textured skins. The Hass avocado was
discovered in La Habra Heights, California in the 1920s by Rudolph Hass. At first, the Hass avocado
was not widely accepted among consumers because of its dark skin color. However, it is now the
most widely-consumed type of avocado produced in the U.S. In 1957, Hass avocados only
comprised 15% of the total crop yield. By the end of the 2010-2011 crop years, Hass avocados
comprised 94.5% of the avocados commercially grown in California.
Avocados come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be shaped like a ball, a teardrop,
or a football. Depending on the variety, the interior flesh ranges from bright yellow to yellow-green to
pale yellow. Although the shapes and colors vary, all avocados have a smooth, creamy flesh and a
delicate nutty flavor.
Production
The United States is the second largest producer of avocados after Mexico. About 90% of avocado
production in the United States takes place in California by more than 5,000 growers. The average
grove size in California is about 13 acres. One avocado tree can produce from 200 to 500 avocados
per year. About 400 million pounds of avocados are harvested each year in California alone. Florida
and Hawaii produce most of the remaining 10% of avocados produced in the United States. In
Florida, there are over 6,500 production acres in Miami-Dade County and a small amount of acreage
in Collier County, where the climate is conducive to cultivating tropical fruits. Dooryard avocado trees
make up an estimated 10% of the canopy in Miami-Dade County. The avocado industry in Florida is
estimated to produce more than $55 million annually and supports over 1,000 full-time and part-time
jobs.
Worldwide avocado production has dramatically increased from 4.6 billion pounds in 1994 to 6.8
billion pounds in 2004.
Pre-Harvest
In Florida, the common practice is to plant 87 trees per acre (planted 20 feet apart), but newer
orchards are increasing the density to 100 trees per acre (planted 18 feet apart). New orchards are
usually planted on existing agricultural land that was previously used for agricultural production. The
sandy and limestone soils can produce satisfactory yields, ranging between 11,000 and 19,500
pounds per acre.
Right: Hass avocado flower during the functional female stage, the first opening stage. Left: Hass
avocado flower during functional male stage, after dehiscence, the second opening stage. Photos by
Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia
In order for avocado trees to produce fruit, they require sugars, hormones, and mineral
nutrients. The type and amount of fertilizer applied depends mainly on the type of soil and age of the
tree. In Florida, a 6-6-6 formulation is applied six times a year during the first two years of
establishment at a rate of one pound per tree. An 8-3-9 formulation is applied six times a year during
the third to sixth years at a rate of two to three pounds per tree. The amount of fertilizer applied
increases with the age of the trees. Soils in south Florida are very alkaline (pH above 6.5), which
inhibits the absorption of micronutrients. The most common micro-nutrient applied every year in
most avocado orchards is iron, which is applied once or twice a year in a chelated form. A multi-
nutrient, micro-nutrient blend, such as Keyplex, is also applied as part of the annual fertilization plan.
Harvest
Avocado harvesting stick. Photo by Bethlehem Motors
Since fruit can stay on the tree for long periods of time without ripening, harvesting may easily
overlap from year to year. Harvest can begin in the late fall or early winter and may continue until the
following fall. Avocados are harvested by hand; pickers work from the ground, use ladders, or
remove the fruit using a pole equipped with a pull-cord operated terminal blade and fruit catching
bag. In Florida, avocados are harvested from late May through March. A professional picker can
pluck about 3,600 avocados a day using the specially equipped pole. When the fruit is picked off the
tree, it is not ripe. As soon as it is picked, the ripening process begins.
Post-Harvest Production
In advanced commercial processing plants, once avocados are transported from the field to the
factory, they are brought up by conveyer belt where they are graded and sorted. There are three
grades of avocado.
“U.S. No. 1” consists of avocados of similar varietal characteristics which are mature but
not overripe, well-formed, clean, well-colored, well-trimmed and which are free from
decay, anthracnose, and freezing injury, and are free from damage caused by bruises,
cuts or other skin breaks, pulled stems, russeting or similar discoloration, scars or scab,
sunburn, sunscald or sprayburn, cercospora spot, other disease, insects, or other
means. Since these fruits are visibly appealing, they are usually shipped to grocery
stores and displayed on shelves.
“U.S. No. 2” consists of avocados of similar varietal characteristics which are mature but
not overripe, fairly well-formed, clean, fairly well-colored, well-trimmed and which are
free from decay and freezing injury and are free from serious damage caused by
anthracnose, bruises, cuts or other skin breaks, pulled stems, russeting or similar
discoloration, scars or scab, sunburn, sunscald or sprayburn, cercospora spot, other
disease, insects, or other means. These fruits are not as nice in appearance as U.S. No.
1 fruits, but still taste the same. They are usually shipped to food service establishments
and other retail settings for ingredients in food products, such as guacamole.
“U.S. No. 3” consists of avocados of similar varietal characteristics which are mature but
not overripe, which are not badly misshapen, and which are free from decay and are free
from serious damage caused by anthracnose and are free from very serious damage
caused by freezing injury, bruises, cuts or other skin breaks, pulled stems, russeting or
similar discoloration, scars or scab, sunburn, sunscald or sprayburn, cercospora spot,
other disease, insects, dirt or other means. Sometimes the damage does not allow these
fruits to ripen correctly, so they are often used as animal feed.
Food Safety
Avocados are favorable to the growth of bacteria, as they have a high lipid and moisture content, are
low in carbohydrates, and have a non-acidic pH level. Additionally, avocados and avocado products
are often consumed raw and without a ‘kill step’ prior to consumption. Fresh cut avocado products
carry an additional risk, as piercing the avocado’s skin may allow for the spread and growth of any
pathogens potentially present on the exterior. Particularly in restaurant settings, foods like
guacamole may present a foodborne risk due to improper storage or food worker handling, the
practice of preparing large batches, and inclusion of other raw ingredients previously implicated in
foodborne outbreaks, such as cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers. From 1984-2008,
guacamole was the potential vehicle in 35 outbreaks reported to the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System. The most commonly reported
pathogens were Salmonella, Shigella, and norovirus, but also included Clostridium
perfringens, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, hepatitis A virus, and
chemical agents.
Consumers should thoroughly wash avocados under running water before eating, cutting, or
cooking, even if the skin will be removed prior to consumption. Promptly consuming fresh avocado
after cutting and discarding the avocado skin may further reduce the risk of illness. Consumers
should also follow the standard “clean, separate, cook, and chill” food safety practices.
Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and as a part of the FDA’s risk-based and
preventative approach to food safety, the agency developed a new, more robust microbiological
surveillance sampling approach. This approach aims to collect many samples of targeted foods over
a short period of time to determine any common factors among positive microbiological
findings. Avocados were selected for sampling in part due to a CDC study’s finding
that Salmonella contaminated salsa or guacamole resulted in 26 outbreaks from 1973-2008. This
study also found that contaminated salsa or guacamole accounted for nearly 1 in every 25
restaurant-associated outbreaks with an identified vehicle from 1998-2008, accounting for nearly
3.9% of all food establishment outbreaks.
From 2014-2016, the FDA collected and tested both imported and domestic whole fresh avocado
samples to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Listeria. Avocado pulp samples were also
collected and tested for Listeria. The prevalence of Salmonella and Listeria on the skins of whole
fresh avocados were 0.74% and 17.73%, respectively. The prevalence of Listeria in avocado pulp
was 0.24%. From 2017-2019, the FDA collected and tested both imported and domestic processed
avocados and guacamole samples to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Listeria. Final
results of this sampling are pending.
Consumption
Avocado consumption in the United States has doubled over the past 10 years and is now about
four times higher than consumption in the mid-1990s. Avocados have become more abundant in the
U.S. due to a large increase in avocado imports. From 2012-2015, U.S. net production accounted for
about 20% of U.S. consumption, compared to about 80% of U.S. consumption in the 1990s.
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is an agricultural promotion group established in 2002 to promote
the consumption of Hass avocados in the U.S. A 12-member board representing domestic producers
and importers of Hass Avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research, and information programs
under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for HAB
comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the U.S.
For more information on the shelf life of avocados, please visit the FoodKeeper App.
Nutrition
Avocados are considered a superfood. They are nutrient dense, contain relatively few calories, and
provide a substantial amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. One-fifth of a medium-sized
avocado (1 ounce) has 50 calories and nearly 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including
4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 6% folate, 8% fiber, 2% iron,
4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene. The 2010 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans recommends that Americans increase their intake of dietary fiber and
states that dietary fiber that occurs naturally in foods may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, as well as help provide a feeling of fullness and promote
healthy laxation. One-fifth of a medium California avocado (1 ounce) provides 8% of the Daily Value
for fiber, while enjoying one-half of a medium California avocado provides 20% of the Daily Value for
fiber. Avocados can act as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble
nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.
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