Most of the novel’s chapters are named for food that the camp laborers grow and harvest as part of their work. Not this chapter, though—the avocados that give this chapter its title are a gift from friends in Los Angeles, in southern California. “Los Aguacates: Avocados” begins with characters not eating the avocados but instead using them in a way that might surprise some readers. Watch the video to learn a little about this popular and useful fruit.
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Avocados are among the world’s most wanted fruits. That’s no surprise! Not only are they delicious to eat fresh, but they’re also used for avocado oil, in cosmetics, and even in some medical products.
Avocados are a tropical fruit. The trees need warm temperatures to thrive, and they have been cultivated in tropical areas of the world for centuries. Some types are as small as lemons and have a thin rind. The Hass avocado is the kind you’ll often see in grocery stores and is the most popular in the United States. This large avocado is a hybrid of Guatemalan and Mexican types and is hardy even in cooler places.
Avocado trees take some years to bear fruit. Most trees aren’t mature enough to produce fruit for five, ten, or even fifteen years. Avocados must ripen and soften while on the tree, so they must be picked carefully to avoid bruising the fruit.
Avocados are nutrient-dense. This means they provide lots of nutrients in each serving that people need to stay healthy. They also contain good fats that bodies need to function well.
Avocados play well with many other foods. Their creamy, mild flavor works well in salads . . .
. . . in healthy smoothies sweetened with bananas or other fruits . . .
. . . and, yes, even in ice cream and paletas, or fruit pops!
The Spanish word for avocado (and the title of this chapter) is aguacate. It comes from an older language, Nahuatl, once spoken by the Aztec and Toltec civilizations in Central America. This language gives us the names of several popular foods, such as cocoa (from cacahualt) and chocolate (from chocolātl).
Other words from Nahuatl name the ingredients of a favorite healthy snack. Tomatoes (from tomatl) and chilis (chīllis) combine with avocado (āhuacatl) and are mashed into a sauce (mōlli) to make . . . guacamole!
In “Los Aguacates: Avocados,” Esperanza rubs mashed avocados on her hands so that the fruit’s natural oils can soften her skin. Some people also pat mashed avocado onto their face as a mask. The fruit’s vitamins, antioxidants, and oil replenish dry skin. It’s easy to make lotion from avocados, as Esperanza does, by mashing some of the fruit with a little honey and oil.
A final fun fact about avocados: When this fruit was new to Europeans, it was often called “alligator pear.” Can you guess why?
Question
You’ll soon read “Los Aguacates: Avocados,” and you’ll see that Hortensia and Esperanza make a lotion from avocados. Why do you think the characters use avocados in this way? Think about the novel’s setting as you answer.
