Green GoldThe Avocado's Remarkable Journey from Humble Superfood to Toast of a Nation

“A solid, minutely documented,multifaceted and challenging work that amply rewards close reading and rereading. For years to come it’s likely to be the go-to source for both scholars and lay readers seriously interested in exploring root, branch, blossom and fruit of the avocado story.” —Anne Mendelson, The Wall Street Journal

“A compelling saga.” —Matt Kettmann, Santa Barbara Independent

“Avocados are a status symbol and a key ingredient to California cuisine, and—in the time of tariffs—they might become an expensive delicacy . . . [A] deep dive into the surprise success of the green fruit.” —Alta

“Those looking for a fact-laden ride through the avocado’s nomenclature and geographical history will be delighted by this work . . . Readers interested in this type of agricultural history will surely dog-ear pages of this biography of one of the most ubiquitous fruits consumed in the country today.” —Booklist

“A comprehensive history of the nursery owners, scientists, marketing whizzes, and health experts who transformed the avocado from an exotic equatorial fruit into a multibillion-dollar industry.” —Publishers Weekly

“There’s nothing like a great fruit with a great story–and that’s exactly what avocados are, with their tale wonderfully told by Sarah Allaback and Monique F. Parsons.” —Dan Koeppel, author of Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

“Green Gold is an impressive read. Whether you’re a history buff or just enjoy a chip full of guacamole, you’ll be thoroughly captivated by the play-by-play wrestling match between the two most famous varieties (Hass and fuerte), and ultimately between California and Mexico (and now the rest of the world). Green Gold is a well researched, captivating story.” —Rick Bayless, James Beard Award-winning chef, author, and restaurateur