Kenya suspends avocado exports

Kenya has suspended the export of avocados indefinitely following the flouting of rules by local exporting companies.

The government through the Agriculture and Food Authority in a notice on Friday informed stakeholders that the move follows the harvesting and exporting of immature fruits, a practice that is hurting the country's trade of the produce.

"Harvesting and export of immature fruits have negatively affected the image of the country in the overseas market. A number of cases of companies harvesting and exporting immature fruits have been reported," said Bernard Ondanje, interim head of the Horticultural Crops Directorate.

Ondanje noted that the suspension affects all avocado fruits that include Hass and Fuerte.

The East African nation exports the produce, about 15,000 tonnes annually, to the European Union and the Middle East, according to the directorate. It also exported the produce to China.