Texas loves its avocados. We put them on toast, mix them into guacamole, and fit them into our favorite recipes wherever possible. But apparently, we have some competition in terms of our love… for growing them. A Kona, Hawaii, farmer named Kenji Fukumitsu has an avocado tree that’s been producing avocados that weigh almost as much as a small newborn baby – averaging six pounds to be exact!
Dr. Joy McElory, a neighbor and friend of the farmer, has become a frequent customer of Fukumitsu’s. “Every month or so we would hear a big clunk and there’s a bag or a box of at least 20, 30 avocados at least six pounds each, even bigger,” McElory told HawaiiNewsNow. And Fukumitsu really has no idea what the secret is. His family has been growing big avocados for close to 80 years. “Look at the size of this. It’s unbelievable. It’s like a baby…we should dress it,” Dr. McElory joked.
Photo: Facebook/Hawaiian Sanctuary
When asked about the enormous fruit, Fukumitsu explained that his older brother grafted the first avocado tree in 1941. To this day, it continues to produce these delicious, and large avocados. Fukumitsu’s family may break a world record for their giant avocados. Hawaii News Now stated that in 2018, another Hawaiian farmer did so with an avocado weighing in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces. If Dr. McElory’s estimate is correct for the average fruit size coming from Fukumitsu, it’s a shoo-in.
Photo: Facebook/Jeffrey Henderson
When he was asked whether he was aware of the current world record, the farmer explained to HawaiiNewsNow , “Been thinking nothing of that, we just pick and eat’em and we sold some.” Sounds about right. For growing such monstrous avocados, he is certainly modest. If your “new year, new me” mentality includes a healthy daily dose of this delicious fruit, apparently Hawaii is the place to be, hands down.
