The avocado is native to Mexico and Central America . Spanish explorers discovered the Aztecs enjoying avocados and they subsequently brought the fruit into Europe .

Cultivated in the 18 th century in the West Indies from the 18 th century , the crop was then grown in California and later introduced into Africa, Australia , Israel and Spain .

The main varieties are :

• Hass : rounded fruit with thick and varicose skin. This is the most cultivated variety and sold worldwide. Purple and dark green coloured at maturity this is an excellent quality fruit.
• Fuerte : pyriform fruit with smooth skin. Green and matt fruit with a very good tasting flesh.
• Pinkerton : coming from California , Pinkerton is a green variety fruit with creamy and fibreless flesh. Mainly cultivated in Israel and South Africa .
• Ettinger : melting and fibreless flesh, shiny green coloured fruit; mainly cultivated in Israel .

The key source countries supplying into the European market are Spain, Israel, South Africa, Peru and Chile.
The avocado is now available all year round.