Kenya Bans Avocado Exports to Ensure Quality, Safeguarding Global Market

Kenya announced on Tuesday that it had decided to close its fiscal year 2023/2024 avocado season, which would result in no avocado exports beginning November 3rd.

The move is intended to prevent the harvesting and exporting of immature fruits, a practice that has previously harmed the country’s export market, according to a statement released by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a state corporation established to develop, regulate, and promote scheduled crops.

“Export clearance (including consignments from the East Africa Community) shall be granted for air shipment only, subject to inspection by the directorate. Traceability information will be required for all consignments,” said AFA Director-General Willis Audi, adding that the institution will review the ban in mid-January 2024.

Audi stated that the move would help sustain and grow Kenya’s international market while also minimizing crop cycle interruptions caused by the harvesting of immature fruits.

Kenya is one of Africa’s leading avocado producers, exporting the fruit to the Netherlands, the UAE, China, France, Spain, Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.

Kenya exports up to 20,000 metric tonnes of avocados to the European Union and the Middle East each year, according to the AFA.

Farmers primarily cultivate three avocado varieties in the country: Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte, and Jumbo.

Kenya has been working hard to expand its avocado market. In 2019, the country agreed to export avocados and other horticultural products to China.