Harrison’s Malayalam has completed its first commercial harvest of Hass avocados in India. Industrialist Harsh Goenka announced the milestone on X, writing: “Our first commercial harvest of Hass avocados at Harrisons Malayalam. From planting saplings to filling crates, it’s taken a few years. Now comes the best part: homemade spicy guacamole.”

The announcement prompted discussion about Hass avocado cultivation in India, including questions about production, fruiting time, and the crop’s potential in other parts of the country.

Dr Shriram Nene, who spent much of his early life in California, responded to the post by recalling that Hass avocados were common there and often grew in backyard orchards. He said he had long wondered why the variety was not cultivated more widely in India for domestic consumption and exports, adding: “Bravo Harsh. Looking forward to some good guacamole.”

According to the source article, Dr Nene noted that parts of India have a climate similar to California, where Hass avocados are widely grown.

The Hass avocado was first developed by Rudolph Hass, a California mail carrier and amateur horticulturist, and has since become the world’s most widely grown avocado variety. It is distinguished by its dark green, textured skin, which turns almost black as the fruit ripens.