SlimCado, the tropical avocado

SNAPSHOT

What is the SlimCado?  It’s a tropical avocado that naturally has up to half the fat and a third fewer calories than the hass avocado. SlimCados are a different branch on the avocado family tree. They’d have to be, they’re grown in very humid climates, not dry climates like the hass.

NOT GMO: SlimCados are NOT GMO. For over 95 years, Brooks Tropicals has grown SlimCados.

Why the label? These avocados can be 3 to 4 times larger than the hass avocado. Sometimes it’s thought to be a large hass avocado.  Since 1984 the label has helped us say:  this is not a hass avocado. It’s a lighter tasting avocado that naturally has less fat and fewer calories.

Taste: Light texture with a sweet, buttery taste. Some varieties have a nutty flavor to them.

Selection: A fruit that yields slightly to gentle pressure is ready for chopping. With more give, it may be ready for mashing, as in guacamole.

Is it ripe? This tropical avocado’s skin remains green and yields to gentle pressure when ripe. It does not turn black.More on ripening…. There are two exceptions to this rule the Hardee and the Beneke avocados. Hardee turns red and the Beneke turns dark green.

Season: Year-round

Big in size. Big in a light buttery taste.
Big in size. Big in a light buttery taste.
SlimCado hanging out in the summer's heat
SlimCado hanging out in the summer's heat

In the know

Tips and hints on enjoying our SlimCados
Tips and hints on enjoying our SlimCados

From field to table, SlimCado

A quick look at this tropical avocado we grow in the Caribbean and some ideas for how to enjoy its light buttery taste. This avocado has a nutritional punch that’s a great help in leading a healthy lifestyle.

Nutritious and delicious
Nutritious and delicious

Nutrition

This tropical avocado has only 276 calories per cup. As the name more than hints, this avocado naturally has less fat and fewer calories. It is not a super large hass avocado. Like all avocados, SlimCados carry a nutritional punch. Read more…

Is it ripe?
Is it ripe?

Is it ripe?

Must knows about SlimCados…
– Don’t refrigerate until ripe!
– It ripens green.*
Give it a gentle squeeze. If it gives a little it’s ready for salads and slicing. If it gives a lot, it’s ready for guacamole. More…

* The exceptions to this rule, Hardee turn red and Beneke turn dark green.

It's a big avocado
It's a big avocado

It’s a big avocado

These tropical avocados can be 3 to 4 times larger than a hass avocado. It weighs, on average, 1.5 lbs.

A lot of bang for your avocado buck and taste.

A SlimCado with another week or so to grow
A SlimCado with another week or so to grow

Our SlimCado groves

Our tropical avocado’s year starts in early spring. Early harvesting avocado trees start losing their leaves but quickly burst into flowers with red leaves growing in behind them. The leaves turn green and the flowers burst into fruit (with a lot of work and luck). Click below to see how the seasons turn for a SlimCado.

In-store tips
In-store tips

In-store tips

You’ve got to use your hands. These tropical avocados stay green while they ripen.* Tips to select the right SlimCado for your needs…

*Two exceptions to this rule…

How to tell if it's GMO
How to tell if it's GMO

The label will tell you if it’s GMO

If a fruit or vegetable IS genetically modified, the number (not the barcode number) on the label will have 5 digits and it will start with 8.

A 4-digit number means the produce is conventionally grown, like our SlimCado.

A 5-digit number beginning with 9 would mean it’s organic.

A branch from another tree grafted on
A branch from another tree grafted on

Ancient farming method survives

As far back as Egyptian times, farmers have refreshed a grove of fruit trees by grafting. An old tree is cut back and a young tree’s branch bounded (grafted) to the old tree’s trunk. See how and why it’s done.

Opening a SlimCado
Opening a SlimCado

Tips on opening this avocado

Two reasons to take some a bit more effort in cutting open a SlimCado

  1. Makes for prettier slices and dices
  2. A SlimCado half makes a great dish for almost any dish, including serving dishes for guacamole or a bowl for a creamy salad scooped inside.

Note: this avocado’s skin may not be as hard to cut thru as a hass avocado. Less effort required to get to great taste.

Different shapes, different sizes
Different shapes, different sizes

Different shapes, different sizes

SlimCados are green-skinned avocados, also known as Florida avocados. Over the 9 month season, different varieties of this family of avocados are harvested. SlimCados come in different shapes and sizes.

Slow to brown
Slow to brown

SlimCados are SLOW to brown

Still take precautions, wrap an open one tight in plastic, squirt some lime on the guac.  But except for some edges browning, this avocado’s color hangs around longer.

Use the shell as a bowl
Use the shell as a bowl

Serve in the avocado skin

It’s eye-catchy. A perfect bowl for the guacamole allowing the chips to slide in around it. And one less dish to wash!

Our guacamole ``recipe``
Our guacamole ``recipe``

People demand our guac recipe

They doubt us when we tell them, it’s our tropical avocado and a mix. See why the easiest guac recipe can be the best, with the right avocado.

A third wash, why not
A third wash, why not

Wash all avocados, FDA says

Follow the FDA guidelines, but we want you to know that for SlimCados that will be the third wash. Just showing how important food safety is to us.

Use the shell as a bowl
Use the shell as a bowl

Beyond the guac and toast!

Enjoy SlimCados or any avocado in sandwiches, bar-be-ques, salads, entrees and so much more. 9 new ways of enjoying this tropical avocado. And with a SlimCado the avocado half can be the bowl!

Don't stop with the guac!
Don't stop with the guac!

Recipes

These tropical avocados are perfect sliced into salads, diced to top soups or mashed and added to scrambled eggs. From breakfast to dinner, beverage to dessert, snack to simply enjoying with a slice of lime, SlimCados are a great treat. Check out our recipes…

Avocado jokes

Avocados are fun to eat and fun to make a little fun of. See more…