While the avocado is one of the most popular fruits in the world, not all the varieties of the fruit are that famous. Even though you may see different sizes, shapes and colors of avocado in the market, they are similar in many ways too. All avocados are packed with the same nutritional and health benefits.
Seeing that avocado trees self-pollinate, it has led to genetic mixing over the years. Today, there are many kinds of avocado seeded from a cross between the two origin races. But for the sake of survival, farmers planted avocado trees that are unlike in nature together resulting in hybrids.
Avocado Season in Morocco
The peak harvest season for avocados in Morocco is lasts from September to April. But the bulk of the fruit is picked between October and April. The avocado season starts off with green skin varieties and ends with one dark skin variety.
Avocado Varieties in Morocco
Currently, there are over 6000 hectares covered by avocado trees of different kinds, according to the Moroccan Avocado Association (MAVA). Although more than 10 avocado cultivars were planted on an experimental basis in the 1960s, presently only four are still in production. The most widely grown cultivar in Morocco is Hass followed by Fuerte.
Here are the differences between some of the types of avocado in Morocco:
Hass Avocado
- It is available from November to April
- It has a rough, pebbly skin that turns from green to purplish-black when ripe
- The tree yields early and heavily
- It has a habit of alternate bearing
- It is a cold-hardy variety
- It is medium to large in size
- It is oval in shape
Fuerte Avocado
- It is available from October to January
- It has a thin, smooth skin that remains green even when ripe
- The tree spreads vigorously
- It has a habit of alternate bearing
- It is a cold-hardy variety
- It is medium to large in size
- It is pear-shaped
Zutano Avocado
- It is available from September to November
- It has a shiny skin that remains green even when ripe
- The tree is a heavy bearer
- It is a cold-hardy variety
- It is medium to large in size
- It is pear-shaped
Bacon Avocado
- It is available from September to November
- It has a smooth skin with yellow spots that remains green even when ripe
- It is a cold hardy variety
- It is medium to large in size
- It is oval in shape
The Hass variety is mainly grown for the export market. The Fuerte variety is mainly grown for the local market but it is also exported in small quantities. Zutano and Bacon are minor commercial varieties and are mainly grown to act as pollinators for Hass.
Avocado can be enjoyed in various ways and in Morocco it is commonly consumed as a smoothie. The Moroccan avocado smoothie is traditionally mixed with avocado, milk and honey or sugar. This beverage is usually served during the month of Ramadan. Sometimes it is blended with nuts like almond and served with dried fruits like dates or figs.
Since avocados don’t soften on the trees, it is not easy to identify the exact time to harvest. Here are some indicators of fruit maturity:
- The dark skin varieties like Hass change color from green to purplish-black.
- For the green skin varieties: the fruit stem turns yellow, the skin may appear less shiny or the end develops rust-like spots
- Some varieties develop a whitish appearance
Moroccan Avocado Association
MAVA was formed in recent years by several avocado exporters in Morocco. They have helped many avocado farmers get international accreditation such as Global GAP. They are regulated by the government through Morocco Foodex.