Since avocados do well in tropical and sub-tropical climates, Kenya is an ideal location for avocado production due to its sub-tropical climate. Kenya produces naturally delicious avocados under the following conditions:
- Well drained soils
- Abundant sunshine
- Well distributed rainfall throughout the year
- Cool temperatures
Avocado growing areas in Kenya are a mixture of highlands with different sea levels. These exceptional conditions create diverse categories of avocado and supply us with an abundance of sweet, creamy fruits.
Avocado season in Kenya comes in full swing from March to September. But due to the difference in climatic conditions of avocado growing zones in Kenya, there are avocados throughout the year. The harvest outside the main season is in small quantities and is usually sold in the domestic market.
Description of Avocado
Do you have a favorite type of avocado? It could either be the creamy buttery type or the milder firmer types. Avocados come in many shapes, sizes, colors, textures and flavors. Here is a general description of avocados:
- They are pear-shaped fruits that grow on evergreen trees.
- Many of them have a thin, rough, green skin.
- They have a greenish or yellowish flesh with a buttery consistency.
- Some of them have a rich, nutty flavor and others have a mildly, nutty flavor
- They have one large seed in the middle.
Description of Avocado Tree
Here is a general description of an avocado tree:
- They are evergreen.
- Avocado trees can be tall, growing up to 20m, or spreading.
- They have oval or elliptical leaves arranged in a spiral on the tips of branches.
- They produce clusters of small, green-yellow flowers.
Different Types of Avocado
Although you may only be familiar with a few types of avocado, there are over 40 varieties grown in Kenya. Many are hybrids, meaning that they are the result of two varieties being bred together to create a new one. Many avocado varieties share similar features with slight differences in size, color, flavor, shape and peak growing season.
The Three Main Types of Avocado in Kenya
While you may see a few types of avocado in the market or green grocery, there are only two main types that grown in Kenya mainly for export. Hass and Fuerte are the most exported varieties from Kenya. But here are the three most common types of avocado commercially grown in Kenya:
Hass Avocado
- It is the most popular variety
- It is available all year round
- It has a rich, nutty flavor
- It has a buttery, creamy texture
- Its skin turns from green to purplish-black when ripe
- It is an oval-shaped fruit
- It has a rough, pebbly skin
- It has a small to medium size seed
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–336g)
- Its main harvest season in Kenya is from May
- It takes less time to mature and produces more yield than other varieties
Fuerte Avocado
- It is the second most popular variety
- It is available in eight months of the year
- It is a pear-shaped fruit
- It has a medium size seed
- It has a smooth, leathery green skin that is easy to peel
- It is a medium to large fruit (140g–392g)
- It has a rich, oily, creamy texture
- Its main harvest season in Kenya is from February
Jumbo or Kienyeji Avocado
- They are made up of local varieties such as Puebla, Pinkerton, Reed
- They are larger in size compared to other varieties
- Their shapes vary from round to long, pear-shaped
- They have a thick, slightly pebbled green skin
- They have a milder taste due to low fat content except Puebla which has a smooth, buttery taste
- They take longer to mature than other varieties
- They are used as rootstocks