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"Sir Prize" is the result of an open-pollinated seedling of "UX48". "Hx48"is a progeny of "Hass"; "Sir Prize" is therefore a grand-child" of "Hass.

Historically, late-fall has been a season of short supplies of California avocado production. "Zutano" production from limited growing regions of the San Joaquin Valley matures during this "early-season" market, before new crop "Hass", but the avocado market has turned away from green-skinned fruit and "Zutano" market prices have significantly dropped. "Sir Prize" is an "early-season" black-skinned avocado. "Sir Prize" exhibits genetic traits common with the Mexican race avocado and is expected to be adapted to regions of the San Joaquin currently growing "Zutano".

Test plots are on-going. Data from the plots is extremely limited, therefore extreme caution is recommended before proceeding with commercial-sized plantings.

The tree is upright and vigorous, similar to "Zutano". Production in limited trials at the University of California. research plots in Irvine have been heavy, comparable to "Hass". Production has been observed to be alternate, also comparable with "Hass". The flower type is "B". There are no known pollination requirements. Slight anise fragrance is detectable in crushed leaves, common for the Mexican race avocado. The Mexican avocado race is most resistant to cold temperatures in California. No data is available at this time to determine the cold tolerance of "Sir Prize".

Maturity No Avocado Inspection Committee dry matter levels have yet been established. From very preliminary post-harvest trials, fruit appears to mature during a period comparable with the "Fuerte" variety. This ''early-season" maturity period is more or less typical of the Mexican-race avocado Unlike "Hass", "Sir Prize" has a relatively short maturity season (approx. 3 months).

Size and Fruit size is larger than "Hass"; likely to decrease slightly as trees age. Fruit size is likely to be different for San Joaquin Valley growers and growers in areas with less extreme summer temperatures. Early data indicates small fruit sizes are not common. The shape is pear, with one side slightly "ridge". The "ridge" becomes almost unrecognizable upon ripening.

Skin Black in color. Mature green fruit appears to have a medium-pebbled skin, although the skin thickness is typically referred to as a "thin-skin". The skin bumps ("pebbles"), are smoother than those of "Hass". The skin is pliable and generally separates cleanly from ripe flesh.

Flesh Smooth texture, "buttery", with excellent flavor. Flesh color and seed ratio is comparable with "Hass". Preliminary post-harvest data indicates excellent storage potential.

"Sir Prize" is an excellent quality "early-season", Mexican race avocado. It is a black-skin avocado with a good potential to replace low-valued existing green-skinned varieties. The 'B' flower type makes it potentially a pollinator variety of "Hass". Persea mite resistance is moderate, greater than "Hass", less than the new "Lamb/Hass".