And now for something completely different February 12, 2007

It's mid-winter and I feel like I need a carnival side show to keep me motivated. "See the 12-foot-tall Giraffe Man who eats leaves from the tops of trees! Dare to pet the terrifying, two-headed, sharp-toothed Bunny Boy of doom." It seems we all need something to distract us from the February blues. That's why we've put Alligator Pears in the crates this week.

Come see the amazing Alligator Pear!
Yes, Ladies and gentlemen - step right up to see the Alligator Pear (aka The Avocado). Why, you may ask, are we putting an avocado in the crate this week? Avocados are fruits and although we have never included them in our mix before, we thought we would try it for a week and see if you like them.

What is the history of the Avocado? Avocados were first noted in 1518 by a Spanish conquistador writing about his explorations in the "New World" of Columbia, in South America. In 1672, a British physician visiting Jamaica noted that the avocado was: "One of the most rare and pleasant fruits of the island. It nourisheth and strengtheneth the body, corroborating the spirits and procuring lust exceedingly." By 1856 the first avocado tree was growing in Los Angeles. The Hass Avocado (which is included in the crate and often misspelled and mispronounced as Haas) is the most popular California variety. It has pebbly black skin and can be grown year round.

Why would I want to eat an avocado? The British physician who noted its energy-producing and lust-inducing characteristics was not alone in his assessment of its powers. The Aztecs had long used it as a reproductive stimulant. Growers in the United States initially sponsored a public relations campaign to dispel the Avocado's randy reputation and help make it palatable to the public. The truth is the avocado is a fiber-packed vitamin pill. www.avocado.org, the California avocado industry's website, notes in its Nutritional Facts at www.avocado.org/healthy_living/avolabel.html that each medium-sized avocado has 5 servings (I don't know about you but I can easily eat an entire one by myself.) for a total of 275 calories and nearly 60% of your RDA dietary fiber and 25% RDA of potassium, Vitamin E, riboflavin, B6, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, and Vitamin C. It has 40% RDA of folate and 10% RDA of zinc, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and thiamin. And 40% RDA of fat based on a 2,000-calorie diet. But remember that this is natural fat that a fruit produces and your body needs. My humble opinion is that fruit fat is good for you, plus there is some research that the monounsaturated fat in Avocados may even help lower cholesterol. When ripe, it should yield to gentle pressure. Some people sprinkle it with lemon juice and sea salt and eat it with a spoon out of the peel. Enjoy and be fruitful!