Garlic from Kenya. Photo: Stella Rasmussen Ltd.
In January, FreshPlaza published an interview with Stella Rasmussen from the eponymous company about the difficult situation in the Kenyan fruit and vegetable sector during the Covid19 pandemic. Since then, however, the situation has improved significantly according to Rasmussen, who reached out to FreshPlaza in Kenya. "More planes from Kenya are finding their way to Europe, from where demand is increasing, especially for French beans and Kenyan garlic. At the moment, we are exclusively supplying various companies in the Netherlands."
Physalis, green asparagus and garlic from Kenya
Rasmussen is also hopeful about other products from Kenya: "Physalis from Kenya I already sell to the Netherlands. For the first time, I have also started promoting green asparagus from Kenya in Europe."
The biggest c
ompetition for Kenyan garlic was probably the import from Egypt, which is about 3000 km away: "Due to the container deliveries, Egypt was able to import much larger quantities and sell them much cheaper. But now we can also finally start marketing our garlic from Kenya."
Right: Asparagus field in Kenya. Photo: Stella Rasmussen Ltd.
Passion fruit is rather rare
Corona
gave Kenyan passion fruit growers a run for their money. "Passion fruits were grown, but because of Corona, many growers had to stop planting them. Although the smaller passion fruits are currently available, they are in small quantities. However, we will be able to increase the quantities in the coming weeks."
Right: passion fruit from Kenya. Photo: Stella Rasmussen Ltd
Fit for the German market
Rasmussen is nevertheless very confident in the face of the setbacks, "I am ready for the German 
market and am actually in talks with several German companies right now. Passion fruit and sweet peas will do well in Germany. But I would also like to sell physalis more. But above all, I would very much like to establish garlic from Kenya in Germany."
Right: Physalis from Kenya. Photo: Stella Rasmussen Ltd
Countering the trend in Germany to rely more on organic products, Rasmussen says, 
"With my American farmers in Kenya, I am currently growing Hokkaido pumpkins. This means that we are also increasingly focusing on organic products that we can market in Germany. We are also in the process of getting these products certified in Germany."
Right: organic Hokkaido pumpkins from Kenya. Photo: Stella Rasmussen Ltd
For more information:
Stella Rasmussen GmbH 
Airport North Road
Nairobi, Kenia
+254 708411272
Email: info@stellarasmussen.com