Closing of the avocado export season in Kenya for the year 2024/2025

The Agriculture and Food Authority – Horticultural Crops Directorate (AFA-HCD) established under the Agriculture and Food Authority Act of 2013 is mandated to develop, regulate, and promote the horticulture industry. The Directorate enforces horticulture sector regulations to ensure that quality produce is marketed locally and internationally. This includes ensuring that mature avocado is harvested and exported, in a bid to sustain and grow Kenya’s international markets, minimize interruption of the crop cycle occasioned by harvesting of immature avocado, resulting in reduction of projected volumes in subsequent harvests. 

The Directorate has been monitoring harvesting trends and recently undertook a countrywide survey in the major avocado production zones to determine current production trends and forecast production for the main season next year. The findings of the survey indicate there is currently insufficient volumes of main season crop to warrant sea shipment. 

This therefore is to notify you that: 

1. The closing of Hass, Pinkerton, Fuerte and Jumbo varieties harvesting season for sea shipment will come into force with effect from Friday 25th October 2024. 

2. The export of Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and Jumbo varieties will continue by air shipment. 

3. Export clearance shall be granted subject to inspection by the Directorate. Traceability information will be required for all consignments. 

4. The notice applies to all exporters, importers, and processors of avocado fruit. 

The Directorate shall continue to closely monitor Avocado maturity trends and patterns, and review the notice in the first week of December 2024 and guide appropriately.