The book is originally from the 80s, and if I remember correctly part of the conceit is that none of the family know what this strange “avocado pear” is (because in Britain of the 1980s no-one did). I don’t think the financial ramifications are really discussed, and the family keep feeding the little blighter avocados until he gets strong enough to beat up a burglar or something.
Marks & Spencer claim they introduced avocados to UK supermarkets, when they stocked them as ‘avocado pears’ in 1968. At the time, we Brits did not take to them.
People were confused by the name: when one customer complained after she’d stewed her avocado pear and served it with custard, M&S even started selling them with leaflets explaining they were intended to be a salad item.
The book is originally from the 80s, and if I remember correctly part of the conceit is that none of the family know what this strange “avocado pear” is (because in Britain of the 1980s no-one did). I don’t think the financial ramifications are really discussed, and the family keep feeding the little blighter avocados until he gets strong enough to beat up a burglar or something.
When did avocados appear in shops?
Normal people shops, late '80s, early '90s mebbe? This potted history reckons 1968 for M&S (which is not a normal person shop when it comes to food):
A cultural history of the avocado