This California girl couldn't pass up a sign like this, seen on Highway 41 just east of Morro Bay.
Avocados are one of my favorite fruits but good ones are not easy to find.
They are sometimes called "Alligator Pears" and like many true pears they ripen off the tree. Perhaps some commercial growers pick them too early, before they are fully mature or they are improperly handled after picking. Whatever the reason, the ones in the super market often lack flavor or show signs of rot.
They are picky about growing conditions, they don't like it too hot and are susceptible to freeze and frost damage. Many of the trees we drove past showed such damage due to an unusual cold snap. The coastal areas of California, south of Big Sur are the best growing areas.
Another interesting fact is why most cultivars are not self fruitful. "A" cultivars open in the morning of the first day of bloom as female, close mid-day and open the next day in the afternoon as male. "B" cultivars are female in the afternoon of the first day of bloom and male in the morning. Thus they can not pollinate themselves
The avocado ranch had a little store with perfectly ripe and soon to ripen avocados. They were delicious. They also sold a variety of gourmet items such as avocado oil (it has a very high smoke point), balsamic vinegar, salsas, chips and dipping oil. I bought a habanero salsa that son Eric found to be adequately hot and quickly devoured. I now have yet another reason to visit Morro Bay.
Linked to Signs, Signs, hosted for us by Lesley.
