Cold-hardy avocados aimed at transforming Florida’s future fruit industry
Written by: Lourdes Mederos, UF/IFAS
Highlights:
- University of Florida scientists proved their cold‑hardy avocado lines can survive the January 2026 freeze, enduring temperatures as low as 17 degrees, which is far colder than commercial varieties like Hass can tolerate.
- Cold‑tolerant varieties could open avocado production much farther north, offering Florida growers new opportunities as western states face growing water and cost constraints.
- New breeding lines are delivering larger, higher‑oil, disease‑resistant avocados, with ongoing work focused on improving peel durability and achieving the consumer‑preferred darkening peel.
Think you can’t grow avocados in the chilly winters of North Florida? Think again.
The significant cold snap of January 2026, which sent temperatures plunging across the Sunshine State, has become the optimal testing grounds for University of Florida scientists developing new cold-hardy avocados at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)…