Kenya closes avocado harvest season, bans exports by sea
Kenya’s exports of avocado to China hit Sh7 billion in three months to October exceeding the earnings that were realised in the first seven months of the year.
The horticulture regulator has frozen avocado harvests and exports by sea from November 15 to prevent pre-mature harvesting of popular varieties of fruit including Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton, Jumbo.
Head of Horticulture Crops Directorate Benjamin Tito said growers will not be allowed to export the popular avocado varieties by sea after November 15. “In order to safeguard the industry, the directorate undertook a survey to ascertain avocado maturity and projected volumes and found there were insufficient mature fruits in orchards across the country,” he said in a notice.
