The avocado is a fruit produced by a tropical American broad-leaved evergreen tree of the genus Persea of the family Lauraceae (laurel family). It is eaten fresh, chiefly in salads and guacamole. The avocado was cultivated by the Aztecs. Avocados are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Magnoliales, family Lauraceae.  

The history of avocado takes us back to the Aztecs and their language, Nahuatl, which contained the word ahuacatl meaning both “fruit of the avocado tree” and “testicle.”  The avocado was introduced to the U.S. state of California in the 19th century, and it has become an extremely successful cash crop. 95% of United States avocado production is located in California.