How to Identify Hass Avocados

Learn how to Distinguish Varieties, Sizes & Types of Fresh Avocados

Did you know that fresh avocados come in a variety of sizes, types and varietals?

Hass avocados are the most commonly known varietal type of avocado. The Hass variety of avocados accounts for the majority of avocados sold in the U.S. It’s the most well-known variety but not the only varietal. There are hundreds of known varietals of fresh avocados from the Anaheim variety to the Zutano.

Some of the other common varietals you might see are the Bacon, Fuerte, Pinkerton, Reed, and Zutano. Zutano, Bacon, Pinkerton, and Fuerte fall into the “greenskins” category so named for their green skin that does not change color upon ripening. For a listing of varietals, visit the University of California Riverside’s Avocado Information site*.

The Hass varietal was patented by the U.S. postman Rudolph Hass (not Haas) in 1935 and has been the preferred varietal for over 75 years because of its easy to peel skin, smooth creamy texture and rich nutty flavor. It’s definitely America’s favorite variety of fresh avocado with over 2 billion pounds consumed in the U.S. in 2015.

• Taste (nutty to light)
• Flesh texture (buttery to watery)
• Blossom type (A or B)
• Seed size
• Skin/peel color when ripe (green to purplish black)
• Fruit shape (round to obovate)
• Peel characteristics (thick and bumpy to thin and smooth)