en.wikipedia.org
The
avocado (
Persea americana), a
tree likely originating from south-central
Mexico,
[2][3][4] is
classified as a member of the
flowering plant family
Lauraceae.
[2] The fruit of the plant, also called an avocado (or
avocado pear or
alligator pear), is
botanically a large
berry containing a single large seed.
[5]
Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and
Mediterranean climates throughout the world.
[2] They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. Commercially, they ripen after harvesting. Avocado trees are partially
self-pollinating, and are often
propagated through
grafting to maintain predictable fruit quality and quantity.
[6] In 2017,
Mexico produced 34% of the world supply of avocados.
A typical serving of avocado (100 g) is moderate to rich in several
B vitamins and
vitamin K, with good content of
vitamin C,
vitamin E and
potassium (right table, USDA nutrient data). Avocados also contain
phytosterols and
carotenoids, such as
lutein and
zeaxanthin.
[69]
Avocados have diverse fats.
[70] For a typical avocado:
Although costly to produce, nutrient-rich avocado oil has diverse uses for salads or cooking and in
cosmetics and soap products.
[2] Avocados are also a good source of vitamins B, E, and C, copper and fiber; their potassium content is higher than bananas.
[71]