Adam Calder

Wheatsfield Produce Manager

Have you ever had a Pinkerton avocado?  We recently started carrying this variety at Wheatsfield Cooperative, and have been pleased with the results.  What is a Pinkerton avocado, and how is it different than the avocados we regularly carry?

The Pinkerton was discovered as a chance seedling in Saticoy, California by J. Pinkerton in the 1960’s. These avocados have been produced in the Unites States since they were patented in 1975.  They are in season December through April.

There are many varieties of avocados in the world, but the most popular and widely grown in the United States is the Hass avocado.  This is the variety we carry year-round at Wheatsfield.  The Hass is an excellent fruit, although sometimes it can have a have fibrous flesh.  They usually have small seeds and oily, flavorful flesh.

The Pinkerton is a cross between a Hass and a Rincon avocado.  The Rincon avocado tree is small, around 12 feet tall and wide after about a decade of growing.  Rincon’s have a large pit and easy-peeling skin.    Unlike other avocados, the Pinkerton can be stored on the tree for several months without fully ripening.

Cross those two plants and you get the Pinkerton, with the excellent flavor and small seed of the paternal plant and a small tree size, easy-to-peel skin and early fruiting from the maternal plant. These avocados have an elongated, thin neck compared to the Hass, but have a superior oil content and excellent flavor with a smooth, buttery flesh.  Since the seed of the Pinkerton is small compared to the size of the fruit, you get more food for your money with less waste.

These avocados are available December through April, so look for them in the avocado display at Wheatsfield while they are in season.