10,000 Avocados Being Given Away Today at Royal Bank Plaza in Honour of Mexican Independence Day

TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, in the spirit of Mexican Independence Day, 10,000 Avocados from Mexico will be distributed at Royal Bank Plaza starting at 6:00 a.m. A Mariachi band and traditional Mexican dancers will entertain morning commuters as Miss Ava Cado and samplers dish out fresh Avocados from Mexico at the corner of Bay and Wellington Streets.

Whether commuters decide to include their avocado in their breakfast, lunch or dinner, they can't go wrong as avocados offer endless versatility as well as internal and external benefits.

Health benefits

Considered one of the world's most nutritious fruits, avocados offer many health benefits, as they:

• contain almost 20 essential nutrients such as folic acid, protein, iron, vitamin E, vitamin K and a variety of B vitamins, just to name a few;
• boast more than 9 grams of fibre per avocado - more than any other fruit - which helps promote regularity;
• are cholesterol free;
• are a good source of lutein, which helps maintain healthy eyesight; and
• are a source of potassium and are low in sodium, which helps regulate blood pressure.

Although avocados contain fat, it is of the health-protective monounsaturated variety, the same kind that is found in olives and nuts that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels.   Avocados are the only fruit that contain 'good fat' and when added to meals, can help the body absorb nutrients and antioxidants from other ingredients.

Beauty benefits - unmasking the goodness from the inside out
Beyond nutrition, avocados offer many external benefits when applied as a moisturizing face mask, hand mask treatment or enriching hair mask.  Avocados are nutrient-dense and contain highly coveted unsaturated oils that can penetrate deep skin tissue for optimum nutrient absorption and a superior moisturizing effect. The oils contained in avocados may also help to reduce wrinkles and improve skin tone significantly, by increasing the amount of collagen in skin, which is normally depleted with age. When applied to the hair, avocado oils and proteins provide hydration and strength.

Ageless
Avocados, which originated in Mexico between 7,000 and 5,000 B.C., remain a staple of the daily diet in Mexico. In Mexico, avocados are served to babies because of their health benefits. They are deemed the ideal food for toddlers and children because they provide much-needed good fats that promote healthy growth and development.

Avocados offer great food for thought. They can be used as a dairy substitute, as they provide a creamy texture and flavour, perfect for more than 7 million¹ Canadians who are lactose intolerant. Consider using them in desserts, such as chocolate-avocado cupcakes or raw vegan cheesecake recipes found at www.missavacado.ca.

How to Select, Ripen and Store an Avocado from Mexico

Determine when you want to use your avocado, if:

TODAY, choose an avocado that is almost black and yields to gentle pressure. 

IN 2-3 DAYS, choose an avocado that is green with darker green patches starting to appear.

IN 4-5 DAYS, choose an avocado that is completely green and firm to the touch.

To speed up the ripening process, place your avocado in a loosely closed brown paper bag at room temperature. Ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Contest:
In honour of today's festive holiday, Avocados from Mexico is running a month long contest on www.missavacado.ca giving avocado lovers in Ontario and Atlantic Canada another reason to celebrate. Sharing why they love Avocados from Mexico could win one lucky entrant two travel vouchers with a total prize value of $2,000. What's not to love?

About Avocados from Mexico and APEAM
APEAM, (Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico) is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 to represent the Hass avocado industry from the Mexico. APEAM, is dedicated to developing and implementing stringent quality measures to ensure the production of the finest avocados available anywhere, worldwide.  APEAM currently represents more than 10,000 producers and 37 packers with more than 70,000 hectares under avocado cultivation in the state of Michoacán, the heart of Mexico's main avocado growing region.

-----------------------------------------------
¹ http://www.cdhf.ca/en/disorders/details/id/13

SOURCE: Avocados from Mexico and APEAM

on Avocados from Mexico, please visit www.missavacado.ca or contact: Joanne D'Souza or Pereina Choudhury at Faye Clack Communications [email protected] (Office: 416.255.6879 ext 231 / Mobile: [phone]) or [email protected] (Office: 416.255.6879 ext 238 / Mobile: [phone])