For an avocado to meet the increasing demands of health conscious consumers, it's got to have less fat and fewer calories. Its got to be SlimCado, the naturally light alternative to the leading Californian variety.

The season is underway for this popular Florida avocado. Brooks Tropicals Inc. has just started picking SlimCados from its groves in south Florida, with shipments carrying through next February. Last season the industry total for all Florida avocados was over 1 million bushels, which was 40 percent higher than the 2003 season.

"Our 2005 SlimCado season will be shorter than 2004, but the upcoming season will definitely be up from 2003," said Craig Wheeling, CEO of Brooks Tropicals Inc. Its going to be a good year for SlimCados.

SlimCados have 50 percent less fat and 35 percent fewer calories than the leading Californian variety. Over three-quarters of a 1,000-member consumer group surveyed in 2004 by the Perishables Group said that they would more likely purchase avocados containing 50 percent less fat than other avocado varieties.

To meet this high standard, Brooks tests the fruit weekly, ensuring that it can rightfully carry a SlimCado FDA nutritional label.

To help produce managers highlight these SlimCado features to health-conscious consumers, Brooks packs each SlimCado box with a colorful placard listing the avocados favorable nutritional content for in-store display.

SlimCados are premium-quality avocados that Brooks delivers at their pinnacle of freshness using hydro-cooling to effectively bring the fruit in from the tropical heat; unique handling machines that gently sort, weigh and size the fruit; and refrigerated loading docks that ensure that the SlimCados tropical flavor is maintained.

The consumer survey also asked how the avocados were being used; 73 percent of the consumers surveyed make guacamole or cut-up avocados for salads, 53 percent serve sliced avocados as a side dish or a snack, and 49 percent put avocados on their sandwiches.