Avocados

Have you ever eaten an avocado? Is it a fruit or a vegetable? It’s a delicious fruit because it is a large berry with a seed, or pit in the center. Avocados grow on trees called Persea Americana. The fruit is picked from trees while still green. Its skin starts to turn brown after it’s harvested. They ripen and soften when stored at room temperature.

Avocados are filled with vitamins and minerals, and therefore they are part of a healthy diet. They have more protein than most fruits. Avocados are eaten all over the world. Popular dishes with avocados include guacamole and avocado toast. Avocados can be found in soups, sushi, and on sandwiches. They can also be an ingredient in ice cream and milkshakes. What’s your favorite way to enjoy an avocado?

Avocado trees grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America. Mexico is the largest producer of avocados. In the United States, avocados are grown in California, Florida and Hawaii. An average California avocado tree will produce 150 avocadoes every year. 

_{These articles are written by library staff using library resources such as books, eBooks, and databases. Information can vary from book to book and database to database. Tickle Your Brain is meant to be a jumping off point for starting conversations about new topics of learning. It is not to be used as an authoritative resource.}