Avocados (Persea americana)

Avocados (Persea americana) are a fruit and not a vegetable. They are thought to have originated in Mexico and in

 Central and South America. Avocado trees were first planted in Florida in 1833 and then in California in 1856. According to NASS, California now accounts for the majority of U.S. avocado production, followed by Florida and Hawaii.

The value of U.S. avocado production increased from $479.1 million in 2010 to $492.1 million in 2011. The total volume amounted to 226,450 tons, an increase of more than 52,120 tons from 2010. According to NASS (2012), the California avocado crop jumped to 195,000 tons, while the Florida crop rose to 31,100 tons. The number of acres under production stabilized at 59,950, and the yield per acre dramatically increased to 3.8 tons.