Hass Avocados for the Holidays

As a way to drive consumer demand and avocado consumption this holiday season, the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) has rolled out the Personal Holiday Chef Sweepstakes.

Running through Nov. 2, the contest gives avocado fans the chance to win one of three holiday parties in their own homes, prepared by one of the following all-star chefs: Rick Bayless, Bravo “Top Chef Masters” Season One winner and chef/owner of Chicago’s Frontera restaurant; Iliana de la Vega, culinary educator and restaurateur; and Roberto Santibañez, restaurateur and author of “Truly Mexican.”

The holiday parties will take place Dec. 1, 2 and 3 with Santibanez, de la Vega and Bayless, respectively, and will feature a menu of authentic Mexican recipes and new ways of incorporating avocados into traditional holiday menus. The program aims to highlight avocados’ versatility and their use as a key ingredient in countless holiday-themed recipes.

The parties will be filmed and made into short webisodes that will air on The Amazing Avocado Facebook page and other video-sharing channels to inspire other party hosts’ seasonal menus. Irvine, Calif.-based MHAIA is supporting the promotion through a national print advertising campaign, online marketing, social media and public relations, as well as Avocados from Mexico’s “Taste the Wow!” endeavor, a multi-city mobile marketing tour bringing the “Taste-mobile” to health and food events during November.