Florida avocados pack fewer calories than California cousins

The trademarked SlimCado, with 50 percent less fat and 33 percent fewer calories than the leading California avocado, is grown in Miami-Dade County and marketed across the United States by Brooks Tropicals of Homestead.

Florida-grown avocados are lighter-tasting and naturally contain less fat than the California-grown Hass variety because of our humid climate, Ostlund said. Brooks has grown them since 1928 and began selling the fruit under the SlimCado label in 1987.

When selecting an avocado, look for one that yields slightly to gentle pressure. To speed ripening, place in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple, which emit ethylene gas, for several days and keep checking it.