Let’s start with a short history of the Gwen avocado. The Gwen avocado is a grandchild of the Hass variety. It was developed by Dr. Bob Bergh of UC-Riverside about 60 years ago and was named after his wife. It was patented by the University of California and released to growers in 1984. It’s worth mentioning that the GEM avocado tree is a seedling of Gwen.
Gwen offers several advantages. It is a precocious tree, Gwen trees can yield twice as much fruit per acre as Hass trees.
It is a semidwarf tree, making it easier to manage. This results in lower picking costs and easier spraying when necessary which can be a plus for commercial growers, helping to increase profitability.
While Hass fruit turns black when ripe, Gwen avocados stay green even when they’re ready to eat. They’re also slightly rounder in shape. Their flavor is just as superior, if not better, and the taste tends to hold up later into the season compared to Hass.
So why, with all these advantages, hasn’t Gwen been able to compete with Hass in the commercial market? There are several reasons, most of which are unrelated to Gwen itself. For example, its green skin is less appealing in a market where consumers are used to the dark-skinned Hass avocado, which has become the dominant variety. The tree’s heavy production was seen as a disadvantage for commercial growers because the tree required more care.
For backyard gardeners, skin color isn’t as much of a concern. The smaller, more narrow tree makes the Gwen a great option for those with limited space. So, if you’re growing avocados at home, the Gwen avocado might be a perfect choice, offering excellent flavor and higher productivity without requiring a lot of space.
In conclusion, while the Gwen avocado may not yet rival Hass in commercial markets, its flavor, compact size, and high yield make it a wonderful option for anyone looking to grow their own avocados at home.
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