"After many hours in meetings and training field staff, we can see a positive improvement in the quality of the fruit and better fruit size than in the past. There are two major differences this season," explains Anton Bothma from Eagle Fruit Alliance.
For the first time all the packers got together and now work as a team on issues like quality, sizes, packaging and prices. In the past it was everybody for himself.Also the Kenya Government control body Horticultural Centre “HCDA” got involved in quality matters and will from now on do close inspections and be monitoring matters like oil content and fruit quality before issuing a phytosanitary certificate. To the Kenyan producer it has become important that avocados ripen perfectly when ready to be consumed and therefore the oil content must be right when it is packed.
"We are well aware that up to now Kenyan avocados were seen as a discount product in the European market when compared to other Southern Hemisphere producers like South Africa and Peru. Our objective is to change this perception and this year we are confident that Europe will notice the difference," says Bothma.
Avocado exports from Peru are growing exponentially in volume and Bothma says they took serious note of this. "One thing that we are sure about, is the fact that avocados from Kenya are grown in a more natural way. We also know that we are much earlier than competing countries, so it gives us a window of opportunity in Europe. After all, Europe is our primary market and we have adjusted all production techniques in accordance to the demands of our European clients."The biggest challenge that they still have, is the expensive shipping cost to Europe which is caused by using smaller fast ships which can go wide to avoid the pirates at the Horn of Africa. All shipments are CA treated to ensure that the fruit arrives in the freshest condition possible.
For more information:
Anton Bothma
Eagle Fruit Alliance (Pty) Ltd
Mobile: +27(0) 82 820 3707
Fax: +27(0) 86 549 7020
Email: [email protected]
Skype: antonbothmalt
