Industry experts claim that Kenya will ship 20,000 tons of avocados to China this year. In a statement from the Department of African Affairs, the department’s Director General Wu Peng said the first batch of the consignment has arrived in China. “With the arrival of the 1st batch of avocados from Kenya in 2023, it is estimated that 20 thousand tons of Kenyan avocados will come to China this year. The achievement is quite encouraging,” Peng said.

China is a high-value avocado market and it imports the bulk of avocados during the summer months between June and August. The country brings in small amounts of avocado the rest of the year from countries whose season comes later.

In general, growers have been advised to start harvesting their fruits for export from March 24. A circular by Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to exporters among other players in the sub sector has revealed that avocado for this year’s season have attained the required maturity and volume indices and are ready for export.

In the circular signed by the director of the authority’s horticultural crops directorate Mr. Benjamin Tito, all avocado fruits for export will be subjected to 100 percent inspection before being shipped to international buyers.

Source: the-star.co.ke