Kakuzi PLC has announced that it will provide free avocado maturity testing services to smallholder farmers as part of Kenya’s national quality assurance strategy. This initiative comes in response to the recent directive from the Agriculture and Food Authority-Horticultural Crops Directorate (AFA-HCD), which set 17th March 2025 as the official start date for the export of Hass avocados via sea shipment.
For the fourth consecutive year, Kakuzi will offer this service to smallholder avocado farmers, particularly those in the Mt Kenya region and surrounding areas. The testing will be conducted at the company’s Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000-certified Avocado Processing and Packhouse facility near Makuyu town, along the Nairobi-Nyeri highway.
Kakuzi PLC Managing Director, Mr. Chris Flowers, emphasized the importance of quality assurance in Kenya’s avocado exports. “The export of immature fruit can be disastrous to our national positioning. To mitigate this risk, Kakuzi continues to invest in supporting smallholder farmers through initiatives such as fruit testing to ensure compliance with global quality standards,” he said.
The free maturity testing is designed to help smallholder farmers meet export requirements and avoid the repercussions of harvesting immature avocados. Mr. Flowers also highlighted the current challenges in the export market due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted logistics. He urged farmers to take advantage of Kakuzi’s free services to ensure that only mature fruit reaches international markets.
In line with AFA-HCD’s directive, all avocado exports will be subject to inspection by the agency’s inspectors. Exporters must apply for inspections at least three days before shipment. Additionally, transportation guidelines have been reinforced, with penalties for those found transporting avocados in open pickup trucks or Probox vehicles, as these methods violate horticulture regulations.
The AFA-HCD plays a crucial role in regulating and promoting Kenya’s horticulture industry. By enforcing strict quality standards, the agency aims to maintain and expand Kenya’s presence in global avocado markets while ensuring sustainable harvesting practices that protect future yields.
With this initiative, Kakuzi is reaffirming its commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening Kenya’s reputation as a leading exporter of high-quality avocados.
