The Fuerte avocado is a classic, high-quality avocado variety, prized for its exceptionally creamy, buttery texture and rich, nutty flavor with hints of citrus. It is a hybrid of Mexican and Guatemalan avocado species, which gives it a distinctive pear shape, a smooth, thin green skin that stays green even when ripe, and a slightly less oily consistency compared to the Hass variety. For many years, it was the most popular avocado in America before the Hass became dominant.
The reason for its name comes from its remarkable history of resilience. The variety was first identified in Puebla, Mexico, in 1911, and cuttings were brought to California for cultivation. During the severe winter freeze of 1913, which destroyed most of the region's avocado crop, the trees grown from this new variety survived the cold. Because of this impressive hardiness, it was given the Spanish name "Fuerte," which directly translates to "strong."
The Hass avocado is the most popular and commercially grown avocado variety in the world, easily recognized by its distinctive oval shape and thick, pebbly skin that darkens from green to a purplish-black as it ripens. It is prized for its rich, creamy, and oily flesh, which has a wonderfully nutty flavor that makes it a favorite for everything from guacamole to salads and toast. The Hass avocado has a high-fat content, a relatively small seed, and a long shelf life, all of which have contributed to its global dominance.
The story behind its name is quite simple and comes from the man who discovered it. In the 1920s, a California postman and amateur horticulturist named Rudolph Hass purchased a seedling of an unknown origin and planted it in his grove. The tree produced an exceptional fruit that his children loved. Recognizing its superior quality, he patented the tree in 1935 and began to promote it. The variety was named the "Hass" avocado in his honor, and remarkably, every Hass avocado tree in the world today can trace its genetic lineage back to that single "mother tree" that Rudolph Hass planted in his backyard
In Morocco, Hass avocados are primarily grown in a specific coastal region in the northwestern part of the country. This area offers the ideal microclimate for avocado cultivation.
The main growing region stretches along the Atlantic coast in the Gharb plain, specifically in a coastal strip between Larache in the north and Kenitra in the south. This area includes key agricultural zones such as:
Moulay Bousselham
Sidi Allal Tazi
Larache
This region benefits from a temperate Mediterranean climate with the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which protects the sensitive avocado trees from extreme temperatures. The soils are generally sandy-loam, which is well-suited for avocado cultivation as it allows for good drainage. While this is the historic and primary zone, cultivation is also expanding to other suitable areas.
In Morocco, the avocado harvest season is staggered, allowing for a long period of availability. The two main varieties, Fuerte and Hass, have distinct harvest schedules:
Fuerte Avocado: This is an early-season variety. The harvest for Fuerte avocados typically begins in late September or early October and continues until around December.
Hass Avocado: This is the main-season variety and constitutes the majority of Morocco's avocado exports. The harvest for Hass avocados starts later, generally from November through April, with the peak of the season often occurring in the winter months.
The three main differences are:
Skin: Hass has a thick, pebbly skin that turns black when ripe. Fuerte has a thin, smooth skin that stays green.
Flavor & Texture: Hass is generally richer and more oily, while Fuerte is slightly lighter and often described as more buttery.
Season: In Morocco, Fuerte is an early-season variety, while Hass is the main-season crop that is available for a longer period.
We export a full range of commercially popular sizes to meet the needs of different markets. Common sizes range from Caliber 12 (largest) to Caliber 24 (smallest). Please contact us with your specific requirements.
Our avocados are typically packed in 4 kg and 10 kg corrugated cardboard cartons, designed to protect the fruit during transit and maintain freshness. We can also explore custom packaging solutions based on your needs.
Our typical minimum order quantity is one full container (40-foot refrigerated container) to ensure cost-effective and safe shipping. However, we can discuss flexible options depending on your needs.
We use a state-of-the-art cold chain logistics process. The avocados are pre-cooled immediately after packing and shipped in temperature-controlled refrigerated containers ("reefers") to maintain optimal freshness from our facility to your destination.
