The Carmen-Hass™ Avocado

A some time ago we were approached by Mr. Mendez of Mexico concerning a new variety, easily confused with classic Hass, that exhibited a peculiar blossoming pattern and thereby produced fruit at an unusual time during the year. It was said to bear mature fruit some two to four months before the classic Hass. The fruit is almost identical to Hass, although a bit more ovoid and smaller on average. The Carmen-Hass™ , privately imported from Mexico, is probably a sport of Hass.

We checked it out in Mexico and it seemed to us that this was indeed the case. In Mexico it is a prolific producer and it is now being planted by a fair number of Mexican growers. Trees seen paired with Hass withstood a freeze much better than the Hass. We brought the Carmen-Hass™ to California and have since obtained a patent. The Carmen-Hass™ is now patented (Plant Patent #11,173).

Our topworked trees in Santa Paula have indeed blossomed at peculiar times. The first year they blossomed in August and again in the following spring. The crop was small. The second year they blossomed only in the spring. Again, the crop was small. The third year from topwork they blossomed in October and set an abundant off-bloom crop. This late-set crop was heavily affected by thrips since thrips control was not done at this odd time of the year. Spring blossoms formed normally and set a regular crop the spring of the fourth year.

Some hundreds of trees have been planted since in California. The variety indeed sets a series of crops in a season. The main bloom coincides with Hass in spring followed by a second bloom around August and a smattering of bloom in October-November. The Spring bloom is normal then the August set seems abundant as temperatures are better for us for pollination. The November bloom is subject to little set depending on temperature.

Many of the trial trees have been unimpressive because the August set can produce round, shinny "off-bloom" fruit. In the spring of 2003 we saw a very good crop on a 2 acre planting in Temecula. The grower was excited because of the distinct sets and abundant fruit followed a good crop the year before. The trees seemed healthy enough carry lots of fruit without stress. They had a large enough planting to bother to manage the thrips in August which can plague the scattered trial trees we've seen. Another relatively large planting is up in Monterey County where Hass ripens in late summer and fall. That customer loves the trees because "they always have fruit". His packer didn't seem to mind the roundish off-bloom fruits.

It still remains to be seen if the Carmen-Hass™ fits a niche in California with its timing and productivity. It might well be quite advantageous is climates where the off-bloom and good weather coincide. Final assessment of this variety under California conditions is still years away; however we strongly recommend that you try a few trees so that you can assess them for yourselves. Please remember that these trees are introduced by Brokaw Nursery and that the germplasm has been patented by Carlos Mendez. Brokaw Nursery is the only legitimate U.S. propagators of this variety.

The Carmen-Hass™ in Temecula, California from the August bloom. The regular crop has already been harvested. February 1, 2005.

The Carmen-Hass™ in Mexico. February 2, 2004
More Carmen-Hass™ in Mexico