Editing Persea americana (section)

== Fruit and uses ==
[[File:Avocado with cross section edit.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Avocado fruit and longitudinal cross-section, photographed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons.]]

Avocado flesh is eaten fresh in salads, spreads, dips, and guacamole. Cultivars differ substantially in oil content, skin texture, flesh color, fruit size, and flavor. Florida types in the UF/IFAS account contain about 3–15% oil, while fruit from other ecological races and cultivars can differ considerably.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

The fruit is most useful when harvested at cultivar maturity and allowed to soften indoors. Refrigeration after ripening slows deterioration, but cut fruit is perishable. Avocado leaves, stems, seeds, and fruit can be poisonous to some animals and birds; the Kew profile also notes that people can experience allergic reactions to the fruit.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]