What Are the Common Types of Avocado Grown in Kenya?

Kenya has over 40 varieties of avocado, where Hass is the main export variety, and Fuerte is preferred for processing. Hass and Fuerte are the most exported varieties from Kenya.

Other commercial varieties identified in Kenya include Keitt, Reed, Booth 8, Simmonds, Pinkerton, Nabal, Puebla, Tonnage, Ettinger, Hayes, G6, and G7. 

Puebla, Fuerte, Duke, G6, and G7 are varieties used as rootstocks.

Seventy percent (70%) of the avocados are grown by smallholder farmers who have 5-20 trees per homestead, 20% by medium-scale farmers who have over 100 trees, and 10% by large commercial plantations which have 10 hectares or more in production. 

The varieties Tonnage, Simmonds, and Booth 7&8 are suited to lowland areas between 90 and 800 m asl.

Hass and Nabal are suited to altitudes 800-2100 m asl. 

Fuerte and Puebla are suited to altitudes 1500-2100 m asl.