Avocados and Life

I read with great interest the article “When It Rained Avocados” by Heseon Park (Sept. 13). One of the joys of food articles is that you learn so much about the history and culture of an area.

We moved to Southern California five years ago. And nothing has helped me to understand this exciting mix of cultures better than The Times’ food writers. I grew up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Very different food tastes there. Heavy on the starch and fat--such as brown October beans simmered for hours with a country ham hock, served with chopped green onions and crusty corn bread. Bland compared with the spicy flavors of this area, but good in its own way. My only two food laments from living in Southern California are the lack of Winesap apples from Virginia and the lack of frozen coconut in the supermarkets (only in Asian markets here). Every good cook from the South knows you must have frozen coconut to make a truly moist coconut pound cake. Ambrosial for the holidays.

CYNTHIA CHADWICK

Moorpark

Nice piece on the delicious avocado! I could easily eat one a day. But at current prices, there is no way I would spend $534 a year on them!

KURT SIPOLSKI

Palm Desert