Apple farmers in Kenya vow to expand pie in the global market

Apple and golden fruit farmers in the country will continue benefiting from both internal and external trading resources that are offered by the Kenya Apple Growers and Exporter Association (KAGEA).

These include informational resources, association meetings, and continued education.

In a statement to mark the first ‘Apple Fruit Day’ in Nairobi, the association has reiterated its commitment to increasing Kenya’s production capacity and export markets through networking.

It brought together hundreds of apple farmers across the nation.

The lobby also seeks to improve the apple farmers in Kenya‘ incomes and job possibilities through high-quality apple cultivation and trade facilitation.

The collaboration  of farmers under the association has attracted farmers from Ghana, Uganda and Zambia indicating a structured leadership that will make a valuable contribution to the  African Union agenda in 2063.

It has attracted a diverse range of support organizations with an interest in offering services across the value chain including, government agencies, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), financial institutions, seed producers, logistics firms, and advisory.

According to the association, its partnerships and engagement with county government will be critical in improving local capacity and know-how, profitability, sustainability and impact while ensuring the initiative’s long-term viability.

The report added that the  collaboration by the apple farmers will help expand Kenya’s share of the pie in the global apple market.

“KAGEA must be forward-thinking as it stretches its wings while promoting the interests of its members by investing in capacity building, data, strategic networking, and ESG principles,” the report read.

The association is driven by its objective of providing world-class services to Kenya’s apple growers and exporters through market and information facilitation.

It also puts Kenya on the international map as a high-quality apple-growing region in Africa and the world.

”The collaboration to expand Kenya’s share of the pie in the global apple market is timely for apple growers, beneficial to Kenyan exports, and a game changer in Africa”.

The apple fruit tops the U.S fruit choice. According to the USDA ERS Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System 2021, people in the US consumed an average of 12.6 pounds (equivalent to 1.4 gallons) of apple juice, roughly 10 pounds of fresh apples, and a total of 3.3 pounds of canned, dried, and frozen apples in

Among the top seven consumed fruits in 2019, apples were the only fruit available in all five forms: fresh, canned, frozen, dried, and juice.

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