Big Island avocados were celebrated Saturday at the 15th annual Avocado Festival in Kailua-Kona.
Over 200 varieties of the fruit are grown on the islands, which West Hawaii Fruit Growers President Brian Lievens calls “the center of diversity in the United States.”
In addition to an arts and crafts fair and entertainment, the festival, which was canceled last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, also featured an instructional presentation on grafting by Ty McDonald, Master Gardener Program coordinator at the University of Hawaii Kona Extension.
Hawaii avocado production was estimated at 17.4 million pounds for the 2018-19 season, up 12% from the previous season, according to data compiled in January by the state Department of Agriculture. The value of the crop was estimated at nearly $1.6 million.
Hawaii is the third largest producer of avocado in the United States, according to the department. More than 200 varieties of avocado are grown across the state, including the Sharwil variety, which is typically grown for commercial production and exported out of state.