The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced that the export of avocado will resume on March 1, after suspension in November 2023.
Although the three-month suspension came to an end, the authority through the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) issued seven directives that will determine whether the products qualify for export.
According to a February 16 statement by the authority, the directives will ensure that only quality products are exported and marketed.
“The Directorate undertook avocado field survey from the 7th to 12th January 2024 to ascertain maturity indices and volumes of the avocado fruit in major production zones.
“The fruits were deemed insufficient then, and thus necessitating an extension of restriction on Avocado shipment by Sea. The Directorate has now established improvement in maturity of the avocado fruits in the major production zones and therefore directs as follows,” said the authority.
7 Directives Given to Traders
The authority indicated that exporters or their agents found transporting Avocado without crates or on open pick-up trucks or probox vehicles contrary to the Horticulture Regulations will be penalized.
The authority also announced that harvesting for the export will begin on March 1, 2024, adding that all the traders will be required to submit a list of their Horticultural Produce.
Additionally, all export produce will be subject to inspection by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)-HCD inspectors adding that all exporters will be required to submit a list of their Horticultural Produce.
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“Exporters are required to apply for inspection at least three days prior to shipment. All exporters are required to submit a list of their Horticultural Produce,” noted the statement.
Further, traders were informed that sea exports of Fuerte and Hass varieties will remain restricted to size code 20 (184 grams) until the open export window begins.
“The export of Hass and Fuerte varieties will continue but limited to a maximum size code 20 (184g),” indicated the statement.
Also, all exporters are required to submit a list of their Horticultural Produce Marketing Agents (HPMA) or suppliers before February 26, 2024. The traders were also warned to strictly transact with marketing agents with valid registration permits.
“All Avocado Dealers should take full responsibility of production and postproduction processes to guarantee compliance to regulatory and market requirements,” added the authority.
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Ban on Avocado Export
AFA Acting Director Christine Chesaro said earlier that the fruit was deemed insufficient causing the government to extend restrictions on avocado shipments by sea.
In addition, the government suspended airfreight of avocados, opting for sea transport for restricted small quantities to prevent the export of unripe fruit that had previously tarnished Kenya’s reputation in international markets.
At that time, the government only allowed a small amount of avocado consignment to be sent by air to make sure that only a limited number of unripe fruits were exported.
