You could soon be spreading a new kind of avocado on your toast as researchers at the University of California Riverside have developed a new version of the fruit — yes, it’s a fruit.
The Luna UCR avocado will soon be marketed to growers worldwide, though it will be a little bit before it hits shelves for consumers.
The new avocado was created after decades of research by scientists looking to solve a few problems: avocado trees that are too big, don’t bear fruit consistently, and don’t resemble the Haas avocado — the most prominent on the market.
With the Luna avocado, all of those concerns are settled.
According to researchers, Luna tastes similar to its older brother, the Haas avocado, looks the same when ripe, and comes from a more reliable tree.
Researchers shared that the tree shape isn’t sprawling, and the flower type of the plant can also pollinate other avocado trees, leading to more bountiful harvests.
The new species of avocado is huge for growers and others in the industry who are looking for alternatives.
Avocado breeding has taken place at UCR for almost 70 years, looking to enhance the fruit that has become a staple in households across the country and cultures globally.
According to a news release from earlier this summer, the Spain-based agricultural commercialization group Eurosemillas has joined with growers in 14 countries to grow the Luna.
UCR is known for creating new versions of different plants, having done so with citrus, asparagus, as well as avocados.
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