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Export markets
Kenyan avocado and fresh produce exporter to the United Kingdom
Britain has imported Kenyan fresh produce for decades and we continue that trade with Hass and Green skin avocados by sea into London Gateway and Felixstowe, and fresh herbs, chillies and passion fruit flown into Heathrow overnight, all under the duty free UK–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement.
Buyers
What UK importers and retail packers buy from us
UK buyers combine a retail programme for avocados with a daily air freight flow of herbs and chillies, and increasingly add ingredients such as avocado oil, dried mango and macadamia for food manufacturing. We serve all three from one counterpart in Nairobi, with the audits, residue testing and ethical compliance British retailers expect.
Products
What we ship to United Kingdom
Market access
Market access and compliance for United Kingdom
Logistics
Logistics from Kenya to United Kingdom
Season calendar
When each product is available for United Kingdom
Kenyan Hass peaks from April to August and Tanzanian Hass from November to March, so Hass is available all year from our East African origins; pineapple, passion fruit, herbs and all value added products ship all year.
| Product | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hass avocado (Kenya) | ||||||||||||
| Hass avocado (Tanzania) | ||||||||||||
| Green skin (Fuerte, Pinkerton) | ||||||||||||
| Apple mango | ||||||||||||
| MD2 pineapple | ||||||||||||
| Passion fruit | ||||||||||||
| Fresh herbs and chillies | ||||||||||||
| Avocado oil, dried, frozen, macadamia, purees |
Consultancy
Consultancy for exporters and buyers trading with the UK
For exporters
Preparation for UK retailer and importer audits, Sedex and SMETA readiness, residue and traceability systems, UK import procedures, and buyer introductions from our database.
For UK importers
Supplier identification and audits in Kenya and East Africa, programme design, independent preloading QC and on site representation at the packhouse.
For programmes
Market access and buyer linkage components for UK funded horticulture and trade development projects in East Africa.
Questions buyers ask
Before you request an offer for United Kingdom
Are Kenyan avocados and herbs duty free in the UK?
Yes. Under the UK–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement Kenyan fruit, vegetables, nuts and avocado oil enter the United Kingdom duty free with proof of origin.
How quickly can fresh herbs reach London?
Herbs are harvested in the Kenyan highlands in the morning, packed and pre-cooled the same day and flown overnight, landing at Heathrow within 24 to 48 hours of cutting.
Do you supply UK retail programmes?
Yes, directly and through UK importers and packers. We provide GLOBALG.A.P., GRASP and SMETA audited supply with residue testing and retail labelling.
Which UK ports do you use for avocados by sea?
London Gateway and Felixstowe are our main ports of discharge, with Tilbury and Rotterdam transhipment as alternatives depending on the carrier.
How do we see the quality before the container sails?
Fruit Quality Studio Africa, the Kenyan arm of Quality Studio Europe, inspects every consignment at the packhouse and issues a preloading QC report on dry matter, defects, sizing and pulp temperature, which we share with you before the vessel departs.
Can you start with a trial order?
Yes. Most programmes begin with one container, or a pallet by air for herbs, chillies and samples, before moving to weekly or fortnightly programme volumes.
Other markets
More export markets we serve
Products
Our full export range
Our partners
Independent quality control and transparent trade, built into every shipment
Two partners work alongside our own team on every export programme, so buyers see the fruit before it sails and know the price before they commit.
Fruit Quality Studio Africa
Independent avocado quality control, the Kenyan arm of Quality Studio Europe. Every consignment is inspected at the packhouse before loading, with a preloading QC report on dry matter, defects, sizing and pulp temperature shared with the buyer, and arrival inspections on request in Europe.
qualitystudio.eu →
SAFTA, Fruit Trade Assistance
Our partner international sourcing platform. SAFTA connects our fresh avocados to retailers, importers and buyers in Europe in a vertically integrated way: fixed and transparent pricing, cold chain from packhouse to destination, reliable buyer connections and SAFTA Rescue support for shipments in European ports, so growers and importers both know where they stand.
fruittradeassistance.com →Contact
Let us talk fruit
Nairobi office hours are 08:00 to 18:00 East Africa Time (UTC+3), and we answer WhatsApp during European and Gulf business hours as well.