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Early Fruit & Vegetable Seed Catalogs of Southern California: Avocados

January 01, 2010

If there is one crop that is still heavily associated with southern California, it is the the avocado. Interest in the avocado started growing around the turn of the 19th century, and by the 1920s, orchards were springing up all over southern California.

"Learn to Love the Avocado" by Thomas Sheddon

"Learn to Love the Avocado"

by Thomas Sheddon for the California Avocado Association. (1928)

Avocado Planters' Chart

(n.d.)

 Avocado Planters' Chart

Many varieties of avocado were offered in these early catalogs as can be seen in these pages from Pioneer Nursery, Armstrong Nurseries, and Theodore Payne:

Pioneer Nursery 1924 p.20 Armstrong Nurseries 1921 catalog "Select Avocados" Theodore Payne 1918 p.16
Pioneer Nursery, 1924 Armstrong Nurseries, 1921 Theodore Payne, 1918
Below are photos from Newbery Sherlock's 1917 catalog. The avocado nurseries were located in Altadena.
Newbery Sherlock Avocado Nurseries 1917 catalog cover
Newbery Sherlock Avocado Nurseries 1917 catalog p. 8 Newbery Sherlock Avocado Nurseries 1917 catalog p. 10

They even provided avocado recipes.

Avocado ice cream, anyone?

 Newbery Sherlock Avocado Nurseries 1917 "Avocado Recipes"

View more photos:

 

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