I found this display in a Sprouts market in San Diego County last week. Such displays selling “Jumbo Hass” avocados can be found in many grocery stores in California during August and September.
What’s a “Jumbo Hass?” Is it a really big fruit of the Hass variety, or is it a distinct variety? Or something else?
The stickers on the fruit in this display all have the same PLU (price look-up) code, which is 4770. That code is to be used for Hass avocados of a specific large size, called 36, which weigh between 10.5 and 12.5 ounces. (See here and here.)
So they are really big Hass avocados, right?
But do you notice that some of the avocados are black while others are green? Reading the stickers, you’ll also find that the black avocados are from California while the green avocados are from Mexico. What’s that all about? Are they actually two different varieties being sold under the same PLU and in the same bin?
I know the answers to these questions, but you might also, and I think it would be more fun to hear your answers before I share mine. So let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and I’ll share mine in a few days.
I have bought a few of these from sprouts. My guess is they are lamb Hass. I have also seen what appears to be gems ( both from USA)
I don’t know the answer but I won’t buy Mexican avocados after being burned with grey flesh. I never complained or went back to the grocery store and I assume others didn’t either. Only lack of sales will change the produce manager’s mind.
My guess is the large ones are Lamb/Hass. I have a young Lamb/Hass and had a couple ‘cados from it last year. It has maybe a dozen on it now. It lost some during the recent 112 degree heat wave. I found them delicious.
I saw these at sprouts too and initially thought they could be reeds but then remembered that I had bought reeds from sprouts in years past that were correctly labeled. I ended up not buying them, so I’m not sure
Reeds are also a little less necky/more round and tend to be more of a November harvest. I’d guess lamb. I guess….
I dont know what they are, but I’m excited to find out. I will be making sure I get a tree!
I assume that Cal and Mexican Jumbo Hass are the same variety but shipped green from Mexico to avoid bruising.
I bought some”large Hass” avocados from Sprouts a couple of years ago. The sign on the table said “large Hass”. The sticker on the avocado said “L Hass”. They sure look a lot like the fruit on my Lamb Hass tree. I am guessing that the produce people at Sprouts just guessed that what the “L” meant was “large” and never gave it another thought.
Most on my Hass tree are 6 to 8oz, but I actually had a few large size, almost 10 oz, so it could be the large ones ( sort of like with chiken eggs? ), although I think mistaking L for large sounds very likely, I agree with Ken on this one…
Been spoiled by the avocados you source! I did buy Dickinson Farm Reed avocados and they ripened very quickly – almost too quickly.
I retired from the grocery business. We had to know our produce codes, and we certainly do not need more codes and the different varieties to remember.
Bought a Large avocado at El Super in National City labled “Florida king”. Planning on eating it in a couple of days…
Hi Greg: I bought 6 from Ralphs, maybe just Large as they all weigh approx 10.5~11.0 oz. They were blackish. I’m guessing lamb hass? What say you?
Years ago when I needed to buy avocados I purchased mainly from Costco. Their main avocado suppliers were Mexico, Chili, USA, and Peru. The sign always stated, “Hass”. Most of the time the fruit was something similar, but something else. As I recall, the avocados from Peru looked exactly like the Hass I grow. The avocados from Chili were definitely some variety other than Hass with a brownish tint and a different shape, but they darkened when ripe. Mexico is by far the largest producer of avocados world wide. The variety I see from Mexico most often is similar to Hass, but to anyone who grows Hass they are clearly not Hass. Usually, the avocados from the USA are genuine Hass. From watching Greg’s videos, I would guess that the large Hass is really a Lamb Hass.