Ireland’s Love Affair With The Avocado Grows Despite Fears Over Its Mammoth Carbon Footprint

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A halved avocado, lemon, salt and a knife lie on a wooden board. (Photo Xander Heinl/Photothek

The use of avocados continues to surge in Ireland, despite their reported impact upon the environment.

Deliveroo says orders with the fruit have increase by 62% in the past year with Templeogue in Dublin 6W where the appetite for the fruit is greatest in the capital.

On average, people from Templeogue opt for three avocados per order, more than anywhere else in Ireland, bar Knocknacarra in Galway.

Avocado’s have become ultra popular in recent times as part of the multiplicity of options that the fruit provides for sustenance and its dexterity and versatility. They can regulate appetite and lower cholesterol.

However multiple studies have highlighted an avocado’s carbon footprint due to the amount of water needed to grow them, as well as fuel used to transport them.

A pack of two avocados has an emissions footprint of 846.36g CO2, almost twice the size of one kilo of bananas (480g).

This is because of the complexities involved in growing, ripening and transporting the popular green fruit.

Avocados are mostly grown in the tropical southern hemisphere, in countries such as Chile, Peru or South Africa, and must be flown thousands of miles to reach Ireland.

They must also be kept at the exact temperature to trigger ripening, while many are wrapped in protective packaging to ensure they are ready to eat straight away.