Dr Shriram Nene is all praise for Harsh Goenka's Hass avocado harvest, says India has huge untapped potential for avocado farming

India's journey towards growing premium Hass avocados has reached an important milestone, with industrialist Harsh Goenka announcing the first commercial harvest at Harrisons Malayalam. The achievement drew widespread attention on social media, including a warm response from Dr Shriram Nene, who praised the initiative and reflected on his childhood in California, where Hass avocados are a staple.

Goenka's post sparked conversations about the future of avocado cultivation in India, with many wondering whether the fruit could become a major crop for both domestic consumption and exports.

Harsh Goenka announces first commercial Hass avocado harvest

Sharing the milestone on X, Harsh Goenka posted a photograph of freshly harvested Hass avocados and wrote:


"Our first commercial harvest of Hass avocados at Harrisons Malayalam. From planting saplings to filling crates, it's taken a few years. Now comes the best part: homemade spicy guacamole."


The post quickly gained traction online, with users congratulating Goenka on the achievement and expressing curiosity about the cultivation of Hass avocados in India.

Many also asked whether the fruit could be grown successfully in other parts of the country.

Dr Shriram Nene recalls growing up with Hass avocados

Among those responding to the post was Dr Shriram Nene, husband of actor Madhuri Dixit.

Replying on X, Dr Nene shared memories of growing up in California, where Hass avocados were widely available and often grew in backyard orchards.

He recalled enjoying generous bowls of guacamole, adding avocado slices to salads and including the fruit in everyday meals.

Dr Nene also noted that several parts of India have climatic conditions comparable to those found in California, adding that he had often wondered why Hass avocados were not cultivated more extensively in the country.

Praising the achievement, he wrote: "Bravo Harsh. Looking forward to some good guacamole."

Why is the Hass avocado so popular?

The Hass avocado is the world's most widely consumed avocado variety and is commonly used in dishes such as:

• Guacamole
• Avocado toast
• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Smoothies

Unlike smooth-skinned green avocado varieties, Hass avocados have:

• Thick, pebbly skin
• Dark green colour that turns almost black when ripe
• Creamy texture
• Rich, nutty flavour

These qualities have made the variety especially popular across global markets.

Who developed the Hass avocado?

The Hass avocado traces its origins to Rudolph Hass, a California mail carrier and amateur horticulturist.

After successfully cultivating the variety, it was named after him and went on to become the dominant avocado cultivar worldwide because of its taste, texture and excellent shelf life.

Today, Hass avocados account for the majority of avocados sold internationally.

Harsh Goenka's announcement resonated with social media users, many of whom described it as an encouraging development for Indian agriculture.