This National Avocado Day, July 31, say hello to the pitless avocado. About the size of a dill pickle, this fruit is the result of an unpollinated blossom and may occur alongside regular-sized avocados with pits. Bee Heaven Farm’s Margie Pikarsky, who grows avocados, says she rarely sees them on her trees, but figures growers here just toss them out in favor of their larger fruits.
But the diminutive avocados have been marketed as “cocktail” avocados or avocaditos, “The convenient, individual portion-size of this charming variety make them perfect for raw snacks or as an addition to a crudité platter. They can be battered whole and deep fried and served with a variety of dipping sauces,” says Specialty Produce, a California-based produce supplier.
Look closely within the circle for an unpollinated avocado
The little avocados gained fame a few years back as a solution to “avocado hand,” a supposed ailment caused by careless slicing of full-sized avocados that lead to gashes. In the UK, stylish retailer Marks and Spencer created a splash a few years ago selling the little seedless avocados from Spain during their season in December.
And how do they taste? Just like their regular-sized counterpart – when ripe, they’re creamy and delicious.
