Avocado Reed

Reed avocados are a medium to large varietal, averaging 12 to 24 ounces in weight, but can sometimes become as heavy as 32 ounces. The variety has a round, oval, to obolid appearance and is typically larger and greener than the commercially popular Hass avocado. The skin remains a forest green, even when ripe, and is thick, leathery, and tough with a semi-smooth, pebbled, textured feel. The skin is also covered in tiny, pale green lenticels and retains a structured, shell-like nature, making it ideal as a serving container but challenging to peel. Underneath the surface, the yellow-green flesh is solid, dense, and firm, with a smooth, creamy, buttery, and less oily consistency. The flesh also encases a relatively large round, brown seed, but the seed size is not overly dominant as the fruit is much larger than standard avocados. The seed does not adhere to the flesh, and in some ripe fruits, the seeds will loosen and rattle when shaken. Reed avocados are ripe when they have a slight give to their surface. The skin's coloring will not change, and the flesh will only be lightly soft, as a very soft texture is a sign of over-ripeness. The stem button can also be popped off to reveal a portion of the flesh. If it is bright yellow-green, it is ripe. Reed avocados have a rich taste, considered more robust than most commercial cultivars, and have a nutty undertone, giving the flesh a bolder flavor.