Norwegian authorities Bama-Gruppen, have flagged a section of Kenya’s avocado exports following traces of high pesticide dosage of chlorpyrifos that can lead to immediate side effects such as headaches and stomach pain at large doses.
Part of the products flagged includes Rema 1,000 Ripe avocado 2pk, 320 g and Season avocado ripened 2pk, 320g. The products were packaged on September 7 and 9, 2022 and September 6,7, 9 and 10 of this year respectively with the lot having been sold in Meny, Kiwi, Spar, Joker and some convenience stores across the country.
Read: Kenyan Avocados Sold At The Largest Fruit Market In East China
Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Relations at Bama, Pia Gulbrandsen, stated they are already taking steps to remove the products from the sales shelves. Bama-Gruppen AS is Norway’s largest private distributor of fruit and vegetables. It specializes in the wholesale trading of fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers, both imported and produced in Norway.
Hosea Machuki, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), noted that keeping Kenya ahead of its competitors will be dependent on maintaining the necessary, internationally recognized standards. This comes after Kenya-grown avocado fruits sourced from listed agribusiness firm Kakuzi Plc hit the largest fresh fruit wholesale market in East China. Once a pest audit is done, Kenya also intends to start exports to Malaysia, in an effort to diversify its markets outside the established boundaries.
Kenya made Ksh6 billion from the opening of the Chinese market in the five months leading up to August. The Avocado Society of Kenya stated that the country has over 100 varieties of Avocados but only four have reached the International Market, including Fuerte, Hass, Pankay, and Jumbo.
Read: Kenya Set To Export Avocados To Malaysia
Kenya has surpassed South Africa to become Africa’s leading exporter of avocados due to the increased demand that the fruit has created on a global scale. Kenya is the product’s sixth-largest exporter producing 81.6 percent of the avocado fruit consumed in the East African Community (EAC). Due to its extended shelf life and flavour, the Hass cultivar, which is the most grown variety in Kenya, has attracted a lot of interest in the export markets.
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