NUUS
LOCALLY GROWN
AVOCADOS
NOW AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
If you like avocados , here is some good news ! Locally grown avocados will henceforth be available on South African shelves all year , no matter the season .
Annette Willemse Communication Specialist
This follows after one of the country ’ s leading producers , ZZ2 , has launched 10 new varietals which are planted at different altitudes and come into season at different times during the year . This means that South African consumers can now not only choose between more varietals of the fruit , but also enjoy this green fruit all year round .
ZZ2 ' s lower altitude orchards come into production in early March , while the higher altitude orchards produce until late December . Its nursery has the capacity to deliver 300,000 trees per annum .
These varietals form part of ZZ2 Afrikado ’ s Harmony avocados and this range of locally grown avocados will contribute towards easing many of the logistical and cost pressures associated with importing avocados from foreign markets .
DID YOU KNOW ?
• Typically , the local avocado season extends from February to November , and the majority of the fruit is picked from March to September .
• Although South Africa has about 800 hectares of new plantings annually , the country still cannot meet the growing demand for avocados .
• Traditionally , the country ’ s avocado market used to be dominated by the darkskinned Hass and the green-skinned Fuerte varietals . The following types are currently available for in-season consumption : Maluma Hass , Lamb Hass , Fuerte , Pinkerton , Ettinger , Ryan , Galil , Edranol , Itzamna and Simmonds .
• According to the South African Avocado Growers ' Association , 80 % of avocado trees produced in South African nurseries are the dark-skinned Hass and Hasstype . The remaining 20 % is made up mainly of the Fuerte .
AVOCADO FACTS :
• Avocado is the fruit of the avocado tree , scientifically known as Persea Americana .
• Because of its pear-shape and green , bumpy skin it is also referred to as an alligator pear .
• Avocados are very nutritious and contain a wide variety of nutrients , including 20 different vitamins and minerals .
• Avocados contain more potassium than bananas .
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SENWES SCENARIO | SOMER � SUMMER 2021