What\u2019s yellowish-green on the inside, in demand all over the world and good for you?<\/p>\n
Avocados, of course!<\/p>
Dark-skinned or green-skinned, they are all delicious and versatile.<\/p>\n
You simply have to add any type of avo to any meal, anytime of the day.<\/p>
We are spoiled for choice, with South African avocados available on-shelf almost all year round because of the many varieties being grown locally in different areas of the country.<\/p>\n
Early season fruit is available from March and the last of the local season comes to market in November.<\/p>\n
Green-skinned avo varieties, including Fuerte, Edranol, Ryan, Reed and Pinkerton, are available until October, while a variety of \u00a0dark-skinned (Hass-type) avocados including Hass, Carmen-Hass \u00ae, Gem\u00ae and Maluma\u00ae are ready to eat from March until November.<\/p>\n
The beautifully creamy, slightly nutty Hass type avocados have a hard, thick, pebbly skin that makes it oh-so-simple to serve half an avo.<\/p>\n
The skin colour of Hass type avos assists in telling whether the fruit is ripe – they usually turn from green to a dark purple-brown as they ripen.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n 5 Ways to use avocado in your beauty routine<\/a><\/p>\n Why Avocados Shouldn\u2019t Exist<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Green-skinned avocados really do melt-in-the-mouth.<\/p>\n To test for ripeness with these easy-to-bruise varieties, simply give a gentle squeeze in the palm of your hand, or feel the stalk \u2013 it should fall off easily when the avocados are ready to eat.<\/p>\n Avocados always ripen from the round end of the fruit, then continue up to the stem end, and should be carefully stored to avoid spoilage.<\/p>\n Ripe and ready avocados are readily available at many retail outlets.<\/p>\n However, if you prefer to buy hard avocados, just keep them at room temperature until they are ripe.<\/p>\n To speed up the ripening process, place avocados in a fruit bowl with other fruit, especially bananas \u2013 or better still, put them into a brown paper bag with a few bananas.<\/p>\n Useful avocado storage tips:<\/p>\n Both dark-skinned or green-skinned avos can be included as part of a healthy eating plan as they are virtually free of sodium and are a source of potassium with just half an avocado providing 420 mg of potassium.<\/p>\n In addition, their high monounsaturated fat content helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels and lowers the risk for heart disease when used to replace saturated and trans fats.<\/p>\n Like @iloveavocadoSA.co.za on Facebook and visit www.avocado.co.za<\/a> for awesome recipes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n