Every so often, someone will write me or ask me at a California Avocado Festival: is it true that the avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable?

Yes, the Avocado is a fruit!

Confirmed: the California Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit, not a vegetable, belonging to the genus Persea in the Lauraceae family. And did you know? The avocado is actually a berry!* Avocados are considered a fruit because they fit all of the botanical criteria for a berry. They have a fleshy pulp and a seed after all. So next time when you’re presented with the opportunity to have an avocado smoothie, embrace the idea if you haven’t before! Be more open to eating avocados in sweeter applications. Think of them as a fruit from now on. They’re great in smoothies and desserts. And even in baking as a fat replacement or as a key ingredient in avocado chocolate mousse! The versatility of the California Avocado is truly only limited by your imagination.