Avocado

The avocado, aguacate or avocado-pear is the edible fruit of the avocado tree, which belongs to Lauraceae family, Mexican or South American in its origin (Persea americana). Today it is widely cultivated - including in Canary Islands and in Madeira Island – and very popular in Brazil. More than 500 avocado varieties are known, from three different origins: Guatemalan, Antillean and Mexican. The edible part is the tender, yellowish-green pulp that wraps the big seed.

It has more than 30% of fat (commercially extracted from the seed, and also from the flesh, for cosmetic purposes). It is rich in sugar and vitamins and it also has one of the highest levels of proteins among the fruits.