How to know when Shepard avocados are ripe: Recipes for avocados in Australia Coles and Woolworths

If there is a time of year that Australians despise, it’s the 12 weeks when Shepard avocados replace the preferred Hass alternative in supermarkets.

The two main varieties of Australian avocados are Shepard (in season from February to April) and Hass (in season from May to January).

With March being the peak season for the slim, thick-skinned Shepards, its presence on supermarket shelves is angering avo lovers across the country.

Shepards are better suited to slicing as they’re firmer and do not lose their shape when cut – so the avocados go well in salads and as a side for Mexican rice and beans.

It’s hard to know when Shepards are ripe as they do not change colour, but an expert revealed that if the top of the avocado – near the stem – is soft, then they’re ready to eat.

If there is a time of year Australians despise, it’s the twelve weeks when Shepard avocados replace the preferred Hass alternative in supermarkets

More than 80% of locally grown avocados are Hass – with Shepards only making up 10-15% of the crop.

‘It’s Shepard avocado season at the moment – and most people are used to finding Hass avocados,’ said Aussie farmer Julia, from Tweed Real Food, in a video.

‘The difference is Hass avocados are rounder and they turn dark when they get ripe.’

‘But Shepard avocados have green skin and you really have to monitor them to see when they’re ripe.’

She demonstrated a fool-proof method to discern the ripeness of an avocado. 

‘Squeeze on the tops of them lightly, but make sure you do not bruise them,’ she advised.

Another difference between the two is that Hass avocados have their stems removed while their counterparts do not.

‘If you remove the stem, your Shepard avocado will start to rot from the top down.’

Thousands of Australians are nevertheless forlorn about Shepard season – with several claiming to be ‘heartbroken’ about the change 

Thousands of Australians are nevertheless forlorn about Shepard season. 

‘The heartbreaking moment when Shepard avocados start to replace Hass,’ one man wrote on Twitter.

‘Shepard avocados are definitive proof that there is no god.’

‘Twelve trays of Shepard avocados at Woolies and not one of them is ripe,’ another angry man wrote.

A woman posted a video detailing a very specific comparison between the ‘inferior’ avocado and an unwelcome guest.

‘Can we please start a petition to have Hass avocados in stock year-round and kick Shepard avocados to the curb?’ she asked. 

‘Hass avocados are elite and Shepard avocados are like that weird, annoying drunk uncle around Christmas time that you have to invite on Christmas Day because it would be rude not to but you really don’t want to. They suck.’

A woman posted a video detailing a very specific comparison between the ‘inferior’ avocado and an unwelcome guest

Others were not as eloquent – but echoed the same sentiment.

‘Shepard avocados – die, die, die, die! Get rid of them!’

But some were glad to finally rid themselves of the ‘soft’ and ‘stringy’ Hass avocados. 

‘Actually, I love Shepard avocados, and mourn the ten months of the year when I’m forced to eat the other gross, stringy, turn-brown-immediately Hass substitutes.’ 

‘I usually dislike them but I had a great Shepard avocado yesterday – they’re awful as avocado smash on toast, but work really well with a bean stew and rice.’

‘Nothing beats a Shepard in a salad – it’s delicious.’