Avocados are the avocado tree’s fruit (Persea Americana). The tree is native to Central America, but due to the appeal of the fruits, it is now widely farmed all over the world. Avocados come in a number of cultivars, but the Hass avocado is the most popular. Avocados feature a pear-shaped fruit with a green-brown leathery exterior, earning them the nickname “alligator pear.” They contain oily, pale yellow-green meat on the inside, as well as a huge, spherical pit. The green meat is sliced, ‘smashed’ (with chili and lime), or creamed and converted into a guacamole dip once the skin and pit are removed. Vegans and those following the paleo diet have also utilized avocado to replace fats such as butter.