What is an alligator pear?

An avocado is a large berry containing a single large seed known as a "pit" or a "stone".

The avocado has another, more reptilian name -“alligator pear.” This name came about not due to the seemingly scaly skin of the fruit, but due to a mislabelling and mispronunciation of its Spanish name, “avogado” by English speakers.

Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. Commercially, they ripen after harvesting. Avocado trees are partially self-pollinating and are often propagated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit.

Avocados have a unique nutrition profile. They contain lots of fiber and are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as B-vitamins, vitamin K, potassium, copper, vitamin E and vitamin C. They can be eaten raw, but are also commonly used in foods like guacamole.