Kenya: Export of avocado varieties suspended to ensure quality

The Kenya Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has made the decision to suspend the export of certain avocado varieties as of this Friday, October 25, to avoid the harvesting of unripe fruits, in an effort to comply with international quality standards. The news, reported by the Kenya News Agency, details that the AFA, through its Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD), issued a notice to all avocado exporters and value chain actors, to stop harvesting the popular varieties that are Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte and Jumbo, for sea shipment for the fiscal year 2024/2025 on the aforementioned date. “Following the end of the avocado harvest season and export by sea, some exporters have mixed mango and avocado consignments for sea shipment, contrary to the Crops (Horticultural Crops) Regulations, 2020 Section 20 (5),” said AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru. Linyiru said the AFA-HCD is monitoring harvest trends and conducted a survey in major avocado production areas to determine current ...