The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) through the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) has opened the harvesting of avocado for export from 1st March 2024.
This is after it conducted an avocado field survey from the 7th to 12th January 2024to ascertain maturity indices and volumes of the avocado fruit in major production zones. The fruits were deemed insufficient then, and thus necessitating an extension of restriction on avocado shipment by Sea.
The Directorate in a notice reports that it has now established improvement in maturity of the avocado fruits in the major production zones
The directorate says that all export produce will be subject to inspection by AFA-HCD inspectors. Exporters are required to apply for inspection at least three days prior to shipment.
The export of Hass and Fuerte varieties will continue but limited to a maximum size code 20 {184g).
All exporters are required to submit a listof their Horticultural Produce Marketing Agents (HPMA) or suppliersbefore 26th February 2024. Exporters are also required to strictly transact with marketing agents with valid registration permits.
The directorate also warns that exporters or their agents found transporting Avocado without crates or on open pick-up trucks or Probox vehicles contrary to the Horticulture Regulations shall be penalized.
All Avocado Dealers are also required to take full responsibility of production and postproduction processes to guarantee compliance to regulatory and market requirements.
