Beginning of March 2022, the Kenya avocado industry received a welcome boost from the Chinese market granting access to its fresh avocados.

“We are hoping that we will be able to export to this new market within the 2022 season which has just resumed after a month of an avocado export ban. We are yet to get full information from KEPHIS,” explains Magdaline Kamau from MoFarm Exporters.

Kenyan fresh avocados exported to China must comply with all applicable Chinese phytosanitary laws and regulations, health and safety standards and be free from any quarantine pests of concern to China.

All orchards, as well as packing houses and fumigation treatment facilities that wish to export avocado to China, must be registered by KEPHIS according to KEPHIS regulations, and approved by both KEPHIS and GACC. Orchards registered for export to China must apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and all fresh avocados exported to China must be treated with Methyl bromide fumigation to eliminate the three fruit flies and false codling moth before shipment.

“The opportunity to export to China comes just as the avocado export ban from Kenya has been lifted. This is good timing for all Kenyan exporters who want to try the new Chinese market.

“We already have a few fruit importers in China that we have been in contact with for quite some time. We are just working to comply with all the KEPHIS and GACC requirements for us to commence.

Kenyan farmers and exporters have been planting more avocados all over the country, the supply will soon be able to cater for the increasing demand for the fruit.

“The Chinese market requires the Hass variety with a minimum dry matter of 22%. This variety has a high demand in the European markets too.

“The returns from the Chinese markets are close to those we get from European markets but we are hoping that with time they will get better. The pandemic has made the shipping costs rise by 30% thus jeopardizing the produce prices.”

About Mofarm Exporters

Mofarm Fresh Fruits Exporters Ltd started in the year 2007 as a sole proprietorship and it was incorporated in the year 2016. Mofarm Fresh Fruits Exporters Ltd has contracted farmers whereby they have adequate supply of a number of avocado varieties under conventional and organic farming.

The company also outsources land and trains farmers and the community how to produce good and quality fruits for export. After harvesting, the fruits are then taken to our warehouse for wiping, cleaning and packaging ready for export.

Mofarm is known as a house of quality fresh produce. They fulfill the needs of our customers with superior and consistent quality, quantity and timely deliveries.

For more information:
Magdaline Kamau
Mofarm Exporters
Tel: +254 722 263 781 
magdalina@mofarmexporters.com  
www.mofarmexporters.com