California’s Original Avocado, From a Few Old Trees
Before Hass took over the shelves, Fuerte was the avocado California built its reputation on. Almost nobody grows it commercially now, because its thin skin makes it harder to ship long distances. We still have a handful of Fuerte trees on our Escondido grove, and every autumn they give us one of the best avocados we have ever eaten.
This is a 4lb box, hand-picked to order and shipped free.
What Fuerte Tastes Like
Buttery and smooth, with a faint nuttiness that Hass does not have. It is the avocado chefs ask us about by name. Where Hass is rich and dense, Fuerte is a little more delicate, which is why people who try the two side by side often come back for Fuerte.
The skin is smooth, thin and stays green when the fruit is ripe, so color tells you nothing. Judge it the way we do: hold it in your palm and squeeze gently. It is ready when it gives slightly, like a firm peach. Our avocado ripening guide walks through the palm test, and how to slow the fruit down once it is perfect.
When Fuerte Ships
Fuerte is a late-autumn and winter avocado. We start picking in November, just as the Hass season winds down, and we pick until the trees are done. When the fruit is gone, it is gone until next season.
Our week runs the same way every week. Orders in by Saturday are picked Sunday or Monday and handed to the carrier Monday or Tuesday. Two to five days later the box is on your porch, firm and about a week off the tree, with its whole ripening window ahead of it. More on how long shipped avocados last.
What Is In The Box
- 4lb of Fuerte avocados, hand-picked the week they ship. The count changes through the season as fruit size changes, which is why we sell by weight rather than by count.
- Free shipping, packed to travel.
- Picked to order. Nothing sits in cold storage, and nothing passes through a packing house.
Why Buy Direct From The Grove
- You will not find Fuerte in most stores. The industry standardized on Hass decades ago. Small groves like ours are where the heritage varieties survived.
- Picked at the right moment. We pick when the fruit is ready, not to a shipping schedule.
- It keeps a family farm going. We are a second-generation grove in Escondido, planted in 1974, and buying direct is what makes the next season possible.
How To Eat It
- Classic guacamole: Fuerte mashes smooth and creamy.
- Sliced on toast with flaky salt and lemon, which is how Becca eats them in season.
- Avocado caprese salad: it holds its shape well when sliced.
Curious how Fuerte compares with Hass, Reed, Bacon and the rest? See our guide to avocado varieties and how they taste.
Out Of Season Right Now?
If this box is showing as unavailable, the trees are between harvests. Leave your email on this page and we will tell you first when Fuerte is ready to order. Boxes are limited by how much a few old trees can give us.
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