Hass Avocado Board and Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen Tackle Fans' Hunger with "Marcus Allen's Gridiron Guacamole".

Fans to Eat 53.5 Million Pounds of Hass Avocados on Big Game Day

IRVINE, Calif. -- With the professional football championship game right around the corner, every "super" fan wants their Big Game Day party to be the talk of the season. Delicious food is an essential ingredient to any gridiron party and every fan knows that guacamole made with creamy Hass avocados is a must-have snack.

To give fans a taste of how a true football legend celebrates Big Game Day, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has teamed up with past Super Bowl MVP Marcus Allen to create the ultimate guacamole recipe, "Marcus Allen's Gridiron Guacamole." It's a delicious and easy snack that fans can whip up to score points with their game day party guests.

Marcus Allen's spectacular 16-year career in the National Football League (NFL) included six appearances in the Pro Bowl and culminated in his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He knows football and knows what makes a great Big Game Day party.

"The best game day parties are those with good friends and great food," says former NFL player Marcus Allen. "Guacamole made from Hass avocados is always my top choice, because it's delicious and easy to make. With the 'Marcus Allen's Gridiron Guacamole' recipe, fans across the country also can enjoy my favorite game day snack."

Big Game Day has traditionally been one of the largest consumption days of the year for Hass avocados, so this recipe is sure to be a hit with fans. In fact, HAB estimates fans will eat 53.5 million pounds of Hass avocados on this year's Big Game Day - enough to cover Miami's Dolphin Stadium, end zone to end zone, more than 20.5 feet deep in avocados.

"With the creation of 'Marcus Allen's Gridiron Guacamole' recipe, fans can enjoy the same snack that past Super Bowl MVP Marcus Allen enjoys on Big Game Day," says Jose Luis Obregon, managing director, information technology, for HAB. "Fans can also bring their snacking to a new level by topping game day favorites, like chili and nachos, with creamy and delicious Hass avocados."

Try "Marcus Allen's Gridiron Guacamole" at your Big Game Day party. For more festive game day recipe ideas that feature Hass avocados, visit the Hass Avocado Board Web site at www.avocadocentral.com.

Recipe: MARCUS ALLEN'S GRIDIRON GUACAMOLE

Ingredients:

-- 5 ripe Hass avocados, peeled and seeded
-- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
-- 1/2 large onion, chopped
-- 1 tomato, diced
-- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
-- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
-- 2 green chilies, diced
-- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, coarsely mash avocados, leaving some chunks
2. Stir in lemon juice
3. Fold in remaining ingredients and serve

About HAB

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) was established in 2002 after approval by producers and importers of Hass avocados in a national referendum. A 12-member Board administers the program. Over 20,000 producers and 100 importers are involved in the HAB, which covers fresh domestic and imported Hass avocados sold in the U.S. market.

Editor's note: A high-resolution image of this recipe is available for download at www.avocadocentral.com