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Avocado Varieties for Commercial Planting in California 1999
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Prepared by: The Variety Subcommittee; California Avocado Society
Reviewed by: University of California, California Avocado Commission
Production Characteristics(a)
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Yrs to 1st
Commercial Harvest |
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Parentage
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Top Worked
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New Plantings
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Yield Potential(e)
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Tree Shape
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Canopy Size
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Alternate Bearing
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Flower Type
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Wind Tolerance
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Frost Tolerance
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Season (i)
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Recommended varieties | |||||||||||
Hass |
Mostly Gua
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3
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4
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High
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S
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Mod-Large
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Severe
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A
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Low
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Low
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Sp, Su, W
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Gwen |
Mostly Gua
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2
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3
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Very High
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S-U (G)
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Small
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Moderate
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A
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Moderate
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Low
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Su
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Pinkerton |
Mostly Gua
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3
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4
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High
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S
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Medium
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Moderate
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A
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High
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Low
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W
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Varieties in commercial production but NOT recommended (b) | |||||||||||
Bacon |
Mostly Mex
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NR(f)
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NR
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Medium
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U
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Small
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Slight
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B
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Moderate
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High
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W
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Fuerte |
Guat Mex
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NR
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NR
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Low
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S
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Large
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Irregular
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B
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High
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Moderate
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W
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Reed |
Guatamalan
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NR
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NR
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High
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U
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Medium
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Moderate
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A
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Very Low
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Low
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Su
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Zutano |
Mostly Mex
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NR
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NR
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High
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U
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Medium
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Slight
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B
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Moderate
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Moderate
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W
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Varieties for testing (c) | |||||||||||
Sir Prize |
Mostly Mex
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2
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3
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NE(h)
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U
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NE
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Moderate
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B
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High
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NE
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Su
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Lamb Hass |
Mostly Gua
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2
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3
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NE
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U
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NE
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NE
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A
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High
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NE
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Sp, Su
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a - General characteristics may vary according to climatic zones for all varieties
b - Other minor varieties including Anaheim, Covacado, Jim, McArthur, Rincon, Santana, Susan are also not recommended.
c - These varieties are considered to show promise, but need limited commercial testing. Data presented is only tentative.
d - Topworked trees may exhibit different tree shape. S=Spreading; U=Upright; I=Irregular.
e - Yields may be enhanced by cross pollination with opposite flower type which blooms at the same time.
f - NR = Not Recommended
g - Topworked trees tend to be more upright.
h - NE = not established
i - Fruiting Season: W=winter, SP=spring, Su=summer, Fa=fall
Fruit Characteristics (a)
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Peel Color (Ripe)
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Feel Texture
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Peel Thickness
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Peel Ease
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Relative Seed Size
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Range in Fruit Size (oz)
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Fruit Shape
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Recommended Varieties
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Hass
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Black
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Rough
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Med Thick
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Very Good
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Sm-med
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5-12
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Ovate
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Gwen
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Green
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Semi-rough
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Med Thick
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Excellent
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Small
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8-18
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Long Pear
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Pinkerton
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Dk Grn
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Rough
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Thick
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Good
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Small
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7-16
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Short Pear
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Varieties in commercial production but NOT recommended (b)
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Bacon
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Dk Grn
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Smooth
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Med Thin
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Fair-good
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Med-lg
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6-12
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Ovate
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Fuirte
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Green
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Smooth
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Medium
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Good-exc
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Medium
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6-14
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Pear
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Reed
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Green
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Semi-rough
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Thick
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Good
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Medium
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8-18
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Round
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Zutano
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Lw/Gr
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Smooth
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Thin
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Fair
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Large
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6-12
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Pear
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Varieties for testing (c)
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Sir Prize
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Black
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Semi-rough
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Thin
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Very Good
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Medium
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7-12
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Pear
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Lamb Hass
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Black
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Rough
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Medium
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Very Good
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Medium
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10-18
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Pear
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a - General characteristics may vary according to climatic zones for all varieties.
b - Other minor varieties including Anaheim, Covacado, Jim, McArthur, Rincon, Santana, Susan are also not recommended.
c - These vareties are considered to show promise, but need limited commercial testing. Data presented is only tentative.
Marketing Characteristics (a)
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Storage & Shelf Life
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Shipping Quality
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Response to Ethylene Conditioning
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Eating Quality (d)
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Recommended Varieties
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Hass
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Good-Excellent
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Excellent
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Excellent
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Excellent
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Gwen
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Good
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Good
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Excellent
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Excellent
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Pinkerton
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Good-Very Good
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Good
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Excellent(f)
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Excellent
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Varieties in commercial production for NOT recommended (b)
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Bacon
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Poor
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Fair
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Poor
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Poor
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Fuerte
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Good
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Poor-Fair
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Poor
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Excellent
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Reed
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Fair
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Fair
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Poor
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Good
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Zutano
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Poor
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Poor-Fair
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Poor
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Poor
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Varieties for testing (c) | ||||
Sir Prize
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NE(c)
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NE
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NE
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Good
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Lamb Hass
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NE
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NE
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NE
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Excellent
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a - General characteristics may vary according to climatic zones for all varieties.
b - Other minor varieties including Anaheim, Covacado, Jim, McArthur, Rincon, Santana, Susan are also not recommended.
c - These varieties are considered to show promise, but need limited commercial testing. Data presented is only tentative.
d - Data presented from California Avocado Commission Consumer Taste Panel (1986-87) for all varieties except Whitsell.
e - NE = Not Established
f - Early season Pinkerton require ethylene conditioning for satisfactory ripening.