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Adventures in Avocadoland
Febrero 5 -
Every other time we've been in Mexico (okay, the one other time we've been in Mexico) we've met Alfonso, the Avocado Farmer. He's always dropping off avocados for his friends and there's nothing I like better than a guy who gives out avocados.
When we saw him again on this visit, we asked if he would be so kind as to show us around his farm. Being the super-nice, avocado-giving guy that he is, he agreed!
So this is how we found ourselves in the back of a minivan travelling at Mexican road speeds towards avocadoland, better known by the locals as Airo de Rosales.
Ask an Avocado Farmer
What is an avocado? An avocado is actually a hybrid fruit.
To grow avocados, it is not as simple as planting a seed of another avocado. At a
certain point in the tree's development, the branches of a criollo tree must
be grafted onto the trunk. Only then will it produce fruit.
What is a criollo? It is an ancestor of the avocado; a
skinny, black fruit that tastes richer, yet more bitter than an avocado.
How did this process come about? A man from California
named Hass first developed this method. As a result, a Hass avocado
is the most popular kind, preferred over Fuertes or Azuls.
When is harvest time? This farm has fruit growing
on two different heights: 1500m and 2200m. Since there is a temperature difference,
they grow at different rates, and something is ready for harvest any time of year.
What are the hazards? Just last week there was a frost,
which hurt the plants in the lower areas. The good thing about having two levels is that
the upper farm was not affected by the frost. Our biggest problems, though, are groundhogs
and moles; they're all over the place up here. Once I hired someone to trap the
groundhogs, and within a week they had caught 130 of them.
Who are your best customers? Within North America, Canada
is the best market, because America is able to grow their own in some places. The
leading buyer for my avocados is France. France loves very rich foods.
Do you ever get sick of them? No, I still like them. And
they're good for you. They help keep your cholesterol level down, even with just 100g
a day.
What is your favourite way to eat avocados? Just slice and eat with some lime and salt.
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Stage 1: The Graft |
Stage 2: The Flower |
Stage 3: The Bud |
Stage 4: An Avocado |
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 El Tiempo:
Chilly in Avocadoland
| Habitación |
Phil's Casa
 
A bed every night. Warm weather. Good food. This is heaven. The best part is that all decisions are made for us, we just follow along like happy little sheeps. Baaaa.
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D'yuna:
 
  | Home
Morelia |
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| All: | Raisin Bran, Fruit, and whatever else we could scrounge up |
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Cena:
 | Chez Pemex Dos
Paricutin |
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| The Gang: | Tiny Fried Pesce (don't eat the heads), Sopa Tarasco, Guacamole, Enchilada Queso |
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| Cuenta: | Frank's Treat! |
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