Avocado:
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B.N.: Persea americana

Avocado or butter fruit (Persea americana) is a subtropical, evergreen fruit tree. Its trees can be short, spreading and fairly bushy or grow erect to a height of 20m or more. The demand for this fruit has been increasing over the past few years in many countries. It has become an important fruit in the international trade. Mexico, Brazil, USA, Israel, New Zealand, South America and South Africa are the major producers of avocado. In India, it is grown as a backyard tree and is found in small pockets on hill slopes of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. It is consumed primarily as fresh and is neither sweet nor acidic. The edible pulp has a nutty flavour with a buttery texture. It is reputed as a nourishing food of high dietetic value. Its energy value is twice as much as banana fruit. Avocado is eaten fresh on bread or in salads with lemon juice, salt and pepper, but in India people prefer to eat it after mixing the pulp with sugar. Avocado oil is used in preparation of cosmetics.