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FAQs

AVANZA avocados are a natural superfood and it’s easy to understand why. These versatile, melt in your mouth fruits really are just perfect. View our FAQs below to learn more about avocados and their benefits.

Avocado
preparation

How can I tell if avocados are ripe?
Hass avocados are ready to eat when their skin is a purple brown colour. There’s no need to squeeze.

How can I ripen my avocado?
Avocados will ripen in your fruit bowl but to accelerate the process, pop in a brown paper bag and include a banana or apple. These other fruits give off ethylene gas, which is a ripening agent.

How can I store avocados?
Uncut ripe avocados can be refrigerated for a few days. Once cut, lemon juice and vinegar can be used to stop them from browning or puree with lemon juice and freeze.

How do I stop avocados going brown when I cut them open?
There are a number of ways to combat oxidisation on the freshly cut flesh of avocados: store in an airtight container or cover the flesh in lemon juice or plastic wrap.

Eating
avocados

When can babies start eating avocado?
Avocado is the perfect baby first food. They are the ideal flavour, consistency and nutritional content. Avocado’s smooth, creamy consistency, neutral flavour and excellent nutritional content makes it one of the first fresh fruits your wee one can enjoy.  They are a great source of calories, high in healthy fat and help the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) from foods eaten with them.

Can you eat avocados during pregnancy?
Yes, definitely. Avocados are full of folate which is essential during pregnancy and vital for healthy growth and development for all ages. 

Health
and Nutrition

Are avocados good for you?
Avocados are packed with almost 20 nutrients. They are a nutrient-dense fruit that plays a major role in healthy diets, contributing almost 20 vitamins, nutrients and phytonutrients. Also, avocados are an excellent source of healthy monounsaturated fats, are cholesterol-free and have naturally low levels of sugar and sodium. 

Can I use avocado on my skin and hair?
Avocado fruit and oil are very effective as a hair or skin mask, it can help to repair dry hair and moisturise the skin.

General
Questions

Is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable?
Avocado is often confused as a vegetable but it’s actually a fruit, more specifically a berry. It’s one of the healthiest fruits as it contains almost 20 nutrients, is naturally low in sugar and one only a few fruits that contains protein.

Where in New Zealand are avocados grown?
All AVANZA avocados are grown in New Zealand. The main avocado growing regions are Northland and the Bay of Plenty. Avocados are exported between August and February.

Why are there seasonal differences in the supply of avocados?
Avocados are biennial in their fruit growth; this means that they have irregular bearing of fruit with seasonal swings in production. One year there will be a large crop and the next the crop may be much smaller. 

THE AVANZA AVOCADO STORY