Dancing to the contagious rhythms of the wide array of musical performers, the 2012 Avocado Festival in Carpinteria came into full swing. Thousands attended the three day extravaganza enjoying everything from delicious food and tasty treats, to strolling through the arts and crafts block, to taking a seat and watching the guacamole competition.
The 80-degree weather could not have been more perfect to try some of the avocado ice cream, strawberry shortcake with avocado syrup, beer and smoothies. “We’re just having a good time with the kids. Lots of food! Lots of Food!” said 
Diandra Batrin, Oxnard resident. The 
festival, which started back in 1986, benefits the fundraising efforts of local non-profit groups, and is an economic boost for Carpinteria as tourists flock the seaside town during the festival weekend. Local vendor, Jessica Marquez, has been selling avocados with her family at the Avocado Festival since its inception. “They’re coming directly from our farm. We farm in Carpinteria, and today we have four different varieties of avocados…they’re all delicious.”
The prestigious avocado has a long and interesting history. It originated in south-central Mexico sometime between 7,000 B.C. and 5,000 B.C., but it wasn’t until much, much later that avocadoes were cultivated. Evidence exists that suggests the avocado was cultivated in Mexico as early as 500 B.C. Santa Barbara’s Judge R.B. Ord introduced avocados to the U.S. in 1871 with
trees from Mexico. By the early 1900’s growers saw the avocado’s commercial potential. Today, California is the leading producer of domestic avocados and home to about 90% of the nation’s crop. The avocado is considered a fruit for those that have been wondering about its classification. In fact, the Spanish conquistadores loved the fruit so much that they had to rename it from the Aztec word to the more manageable and easier to pronounce, aguacate. Aguacate eventually evolved into avocado in English.
Flash forward to the Avocado Festival, “It’s a really great place to come and see,” says Marquez, “you get a great education on avocados. You learn a little bit about your region, and you get to celebrate with everybody in the community.”
The Avocado Festival is once a year, so for those that missed it, only 365 days left until the next one. Until then, know that the California avocado is harvested year round so you can still enjoy that guacamole dip and chips.
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Copyright 2012 Red Pacific Media
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