How Coles is combatting national hatred for Shepard avocados with ‘game-changing’ Autumn variety: ‘It looks like a Hass’

Coles shoppers are happy to have a little-known avocado variety in stock – and it’s an alternative to the ever-controversial Shepard variety.

The ‘Autumn avocado’ is now available nationally for €1.30 each – the same price as Shepard avocados – and is believed to be marketed as a suitable replacement for the popular Hass avocados.

Australians have made it clear that Hass avocados are preferable to the ‘dreaded’ Shepard, but currently only the latter is in season.

The newest addition has a rough, pebble-green skin that darkens as the fruit ripens. It is also slightly larger than Hass.

Fall avocados were available in 2021 and most who tried them agreed that they are better than Shepards, but for the most part “not as good” as Hass.

It has a rough, pebble-green skin that darkens as the fruit ripens. It is also slightly larger than Hass. Australians have made it clear that Hass avocados are preferred over the ‘dreaded’ Shepard, but currently only the latter is in season (photo left, autumn avocados)

“Avocado lovers who hate Shepard season: try the ‘fall’ avocados. They’re going well. I mean, they’re not Hass, but they’re a much better substitute,” one woman wrote on Facebook.

Another shopper took to Reddit to share his distaste for the products, writing: ‘Fall avocados at Coles are just terrible Shepard avocados. Don’t make my mistake.’

Someone else wrote: ‘They are fine for guacamole, everything else is wrong but the texture is all wrong.’

“There’s only one avocado… Hass or nothing,” added another.

Another said: ‘My favorite time of year, I love a Shepard avocado,’ much to the ire of critics.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Coles for comment.

Some customers say they prefer Autumn avocados (right) to Shepard avocados (left).

It comes as Australians expressed frustration at the ‘worst season of the year’, with Shepard avocados more readily available than the popular Hass variety.

Hass avocados are in season in Australia from May to January, while Shepards are in season from February to April, with production peaking in March.

Avocado lovers are in an uproar during Shepard season, with some calling the fruit “inferior” due to its “waxy” texture.

One customer accused a supermarket of “rebranding” Shepard avocados to make them more attractive.

A Coles customer noticed that the under-ripe Shepards in the produce section had stickers saying ‘Green Skin Avocados’.