In honor of International Avocado Day celebrated today (31.07), we have explored the beloved fruit and brought you some interesting facts about one of Israel's favorite fruits. Avocado is a subtropical fruit (yes, it is a fruit and not a vegetable) that originally comes from Central America. The first avocado trees were brought to Israel by monks from the Latrun Monastery in 1920, and the first cultivated avocado trees in Israel were planted at the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School.
From a Halachic perspective, on an avocado, we say the blessing "Borei Pri HaEtz" (the one who creates the fruit of the tree), unless it is completely mashed, in which case we say the blessing "Shehakol." Avocado is one of the most successful fruits in Israel and is used to make various salads and spreads. It is considered a "superfood" and is important for vegetarians and vegans among us to consume because it contains complete protein and essential amino acids.
