Avocado Maturity Time
An avocado tree is mature after three to four years. Since avocados don’t soften on the trees, its not easy to identify the right harvesting season. Here are some indicators of maturity:
- The dark varieties like Hass change color from green to black or purple.
- For the green varieties: the fruit stem turns yellow, the skin may appear less shiny or the end develops rust-like spots
- Some varieties develop a whitish appearance
Avocado Fruit Maturity
- The floating test is where fruits that float on the surface of water are usually mature. Immature avocados sink or float below the surface.
- The other method is where you pick a few fruits and leave them to ripen in a warm place. If they soften without shriveling within a week at room temperature, then the crop is ready for picking
Avocado Harvest Season in Kenya
Avocados in Kenya are harvested from March to September. It is important to know the correct harvest time because it affects fruit quality, storage and shelf life.
Avocado Harvesting Process in Kenya
The following treatment, processing and packaging methods are used to prolong the shelf life of the avocado fruit.
- Harvesting is done during cool weather or in the cooler times of the day.
- The fruit is cut from the tree using snips, secateurs or shears leaving about 0.5cm of stalk intact.
- Avocado trees are harvested gently by hand.
- To separate the fruit from the tree, the stem of the avocado is cut carefully.
- A ladder or a pole pruner is used for picking the fruits that are above arm’s reach.
- Attached to the pole is a catching bag that captures the harvested avocado. The bag prevents it from falling to the ground and bruising.
- Collection bags are emptied carefully with each fruit being removed individually.
The yield is 4 tons per acre per year. This is 250-300 kg per tree from the 5th year.
Avocado Post Harvest Handling in Kenya
- The harvested fruit is kept in the shade to minimize sun burn, loss of moisture and dust accumulation.
- All the field debris including misshaped, diseased and bruised fruit is removed.
- Cold, clean water is used to remove any dirt found on the fruits.
- The fruits are cooled as quickly as possible. Hass and Fuerte are cooled to 5°C-7°C within five hours of harvesting.
- Cooling the fruit is required if the period between harvest and delivery at the intended market is more than two days.
- The avocados are immersed in water heated to a temperature of 50°C for 3-5 minutes using fungicides. The hot water treatment is used to kill fungal spores on the skin.
- The fruits are waxed and dried in hot air.
Avocado Storage in Kenya
Storage is the holding of cooled fruit before transport to customers (wholesalers, retailers, exporters).
Avocado fruits are stored at temperatures of 5°C-7°C and a relative humidity of 85%-95% for three to four weeks.
Avocado Packaging in Kenya
- Avocados are graded according to size and weight
- The avocado fruits are packed as per the orders and quality standards in 4kg cartons
- Fresh avocado fruits are packed in cartons made of solid or corrugated fiberboard
- They are packed in a single layer
- The boxes have enough ventilation holes for effective cooling and air circulation
Transportation of Avocados in Kenya
- Avocado fruits are packed firmly in place. It is because they shouldn’t roll around or rub against one another in the transport vehicle.
- Boxes are handled carefully during loading and offloading. They are also securely stacked throughout transportation.
Covered vehicles are usually used. Insulated or refrigerated trucks are the best means of transport.