Hass avocado, or as I like to call it, the creme de la creme of avocados, is a variety of avocado known for its dark green, bumpy skin and creamy, buttery flesh. It's the avocado that graces our Instagram feeds with its photogenic qualities and brings joy to our taste buds with its rich flavor.
The story of the Hass avocado is like a Hollywood movie. It was discovered by a postal worker named Rudolph Hass, a mail carrier and amateur farmer in the 1920s. He stumbled upon a strange-looking avocado tree in his backyard, which turned out to be the gem we now know and love. Hass patented the tree, but little did he know that he was also patenting a global obsession with avocados.
How To Grow Avocados in Kenya for Export
Distribution of Avocado Growing Zones
Avocados are grown in many countries, but some are leading the pack in terms of Hass avocado production. Mexico, the birthplace of guacamole, is the largest producer, followed by the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Colombia. These countries have mastered the art of avocado farming and are responsible for keeping our avocado toast dreams alive. African countries such as Kenya and South Africa are coming up nicely. Kenya to be specific has over time overtaken more South American countries in avocado production. Other producers in Africa include some parts of Tanzania and Uganda. East Africa has a very favorable climate for farming avocados.
Avocado Consumption
Avocado consumption has gone from an occasional luxury to an everyday necessity for many people. Millennials have adopted avocados as their spirit fruit, driving up demand like there's no tomorrow. Avocado toast, avocado smoothies, and even avocado ice cream have become staples in our diets. Avocados can accompany any type of food, word making round is, you can do an avocado with another avocado. It's safe to say that avocados have become our green obsession.
Demand For Kenyan Avocado Continues to Climb: The Issue Right Now Is Providing a Continuous Supply
As you may have noted Kenya falls a distant 6th in Hass avocado production globally and first in Africa, can you process that for a moment. Mind you we are the closest source of avocados for Europe, Middle East and Asia. The distance from Kenya to the largest importers of Hass avocado in the EU is smaller compared to the distance between South America and the EU. Kenyan avocados hit the EU market faster and cheaper than their counterparts from South America. That means that Kenya, with your help as a farmer, can be the sole exporter of avocados if we hit the right numbers, just as Mexico is the main exporter to the US. The farmers can actually help stabilize the free falling Kenyan Shilling against the dollar as we earn more foreign exchange.
The US is the largest importer of the Mexican avocado fruit, meaning a small percentage is sold in the EU and Asian market.
How Avocado Farming In Kenya Is Influenced By Global Supply
Kenya's Export Potential
If you study the above representation carefully you will note that Kenya's highest producing seasons do not necessarily overlap with others. The demand for our fruit coincides with a period of low production from countries like Mexico. China, New Zealand, Israel, Spain and a larger part of the EU will therefore rely on what we produce.
Emerging Opportunities and Growth Potential
The Hass avocado market
is full of potential. As consumer awareness of healthy eating and plant-based
diets increases, so does the demand for avocados. The versatility of Hass
avocados in various cuisines and the trend of avocado-based products, such as
oils and spreads, open up new avenues for growth. Furthermore, emerging markets
in Asia and Eastern Europe present exciting opportunities for expansion and a
chance to bring avocados to even more tables around the world.
For more information on how you can get certified avocado seedlings contact us via 0724698357/0723213602 or visit us in our nurseries in Embu and Naivasha.
2 comments:
I don't think Kenya is doing enough sales of our avocados in Europe .... Just for interest I checked out the origins of avocado importation into Greece - and noted they were all from South America - Peru specifically and Brazil I think - yet Kenya is so much closer- so Kenya's marketing is a weak link!!
The Kenyan farmers score a lot of own goals by harvesting immature fruits, that soils our name in international markets. The strict measures undertaken recently including banning of exports for some months is building back the trust.. That aside we are under producing. Our volumes cannot satisfy the demand. It's like we are fully booked. We have to increase our capacity.
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