Laura Tsunoda

AV AFFECTATION: Brown University student Laura Tsunoda—who grew up in Encinitas but whose parents have since moved to the Mesa—opted for our graduated internship, in which qualified writers spend a couple months reporting and writing a single story under the tutelage of an editor. This week’s avocado article is the result, but it’s also the basis for her 50- to 80-page honors thesis in Brown’s nonfiction writing program. “I really, really hope that whatever narrative interpretation I produce will not violate fact,” said Tsunoda, who’s inspiration was John McPhee’s Oranges. “The avocado industry has been really good to a nosey, non-credentialed student,” she said. “Hopefully, I can be good to them back.”