Is there anything better than cutting into a perfectly ripe avocado?
Methinks not… Unless that avocado is of the Hass variety, and was grown locally and organically.
And. It. WAS!
That’s why I am SO excited to bring this week’s featured business to you.
The birthplace of my perfectly ripe avocado is Rancho Vasquez, a family owned and run business located in Azusa. It was here about 140 years ago that some of the first Hass Avocado trees were planted and are still thriving. The family still runs the farm and does the harvesting themselves. It’s impressive!
Originally the avocados produced supplied the family restaurant, and now the business has grown to be a supplier to many restaurants and markets in the area.
And now they will forever supply my family’s avocado obsession!
Besides the infamous and best (what? Come at me) Hass variety, they also offer Lamb Hass, Reed, Fuerte, and now in season are the gigantic Pinkerton avocados. Each type has its own peak season but fresh avocados can be bought most of the year. The only months that are not mentioned in the peak seasons are September & October, during which outdoor concerts are offered on the patio of the property surrounded by avocado and citrus trees. Swoon!
Which brings me to another point- not only are the avocados delectable but so are all of the varieties of citrus grown by Rancho Vasquez! We visited recently and everything we bought was excellent. Ruby red grapefruits, blood oranges, and tangerines. I especially love the avocado oil- it’s safe to cook with and has a beautiful gentle avocado flavor to it. In addition to these items, they also sell avocado honey, avocado body butter, and some farm merchandise.
If you’re interested in visiting the farm and buying produce for yourself, their hours are Friday 11a-5p, Saturday 9a-5p and Sunday 11a-5p. Tours of the farm are available by appointment only and I will be organizing one for a Saturday in April so please contact me if you would like to join! hello@yourfoothillcommunity.com.
For more information on the Vasquez family and more details about Rancho Vasquez, click here.
Looking for other hidden gems in the foothills? Check out our post here.
Maybe you are in the mood for eggs & avocados? We’ve got a post for that too!
