American Agriculturist and Entrepreneur. Hass was the creator of the fruit that bears his name today, which consists of nearly 80% of all avocados produced and sold in America. In 1925, he was working as a mail carrier in Pasadena, CA., when he purchased a one and a half acre plot of land in La Habra Heights, CA. He found old, unproductive avocado trees growing on a portion of the property and decided to graft some of those specimens with fresh budwood. When the seedlings were properly sized, he grafted those with the 'fuerte' variety avocado, which was the most popular variety at the time due to its ability to survive in cold weather. Once the new, delicious variety began to produce, he was selling them to his fellow postal workers at five for a dollar, then later to local produce and grocery stores. In 1935, he patented his creation under his name, however he never became a wealthy man off his product because back then, plant patents proved difficult to enforce because of the ease of vegetative propagation or cloning. His total profit from his patent totaled less than $5,000.00. Hass continued to work as at the Pasadena post office until his death at age 60, the same year his patent expired.
American Agriculturist and Entrepreneur. Hass was the creator of the fruit that bears his name today, which consists of nearly 80% of all avocados produced and sold in America. In 1925, he was working as a mail carrier in Pasadena, CA., when he purchased a one and a half acre plot of land in La Habra Heights, CA. He found old, unproductive avocado trees growing on a portion of the property and decided to graft some of those specimens with fresh budwood. When the seedlings were properly sized, he grafted those with the 'fuerte' variety avocado, which was the most popular variety at the time due to its ability to survive in cold weather. Once the new, delicious variety began to produce, he was selling them to his fellow postal workers at five for a dollar, then later to local produce and grocery stores. In 1935, he patented his creation under his name, however he never became a wealthy man off his product because back then, plant patents proved difficult to enforce because of the ease of vegetative propagation or cloning. His total profit from his patent totaled less than $5,000.00. Hass continued to work as at the Pasadena post office until his death at age 60, the same year his patent expired.
Bio by: Glenn Joiner
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