Where the Hass Avocado is believed to have come from
Of course, avocados have existed for many, many years. Avocados were first domesticated by early humans in Africa and Central America around 500 B.C.
The first Hass tree was a mistake. A California mailman named Mr Rudolph Hass bought three avocado seedlings from Mr Rideout in Whittier, CA, in 1926. Creating a 2-acre grove of Lyon avocados was Mr Hass’s goal. Mr Rideout would pick up seeds from wherever he could, including the food waste bins at restaurants. The tale goes that one of Mr Hass’ avocado trees developed a distinctive dark green, bumpy-skinned fruit as they expanded and started to bear fruit. The luscious flavour of this variety of avocado won the hearts of Mr Hass’s kids over all others and as the tree developed, it began to produce more fruit than the family could consume. Mr Hass decided to sell some of the extra fruit to his coworkers at the post office, and that is essentially how the avocado tree spread over the world.
What distinguishes a Hass avocado from an ordinary avocado
The Hass avocados are smaller and have pebbly skin that turns dark purple when ripe, whereas regular avocados are larger and have smooth skin. The main distinction, though, is the nutritional benefit of the fat content. For instance, two or three slices of a Hass avocado have 4.6 grams of fat, compared to approximately 3 grams in the same amount of ordinary avocado.
Growing Hass Avocados in Kenya
To produce the best Hass Avocado, one must cultivate meticulous planning before beginning as it is primarily a permanent investment. Hass avocados are primarily grown by both large and small-scale growers in Kenya. The Hass avocado tree grows quickly and produces high-quality fruits that have a long shelf life because of their thick skin. The trees are medium-sized, spreading, evergreen trees that can reach heights of 30 to 40 feet and widths of 35 feet. Growing avocados is essentially a long-term investment, thus caution must be exercised while getting started. In Kenya, both small-scale and large-scale growers mostly grow Hass avocados. An estimated 115,000 metric tons of avocados are produced annually in Kenya. The majority—70%—of this is grown by modest farmers. Previously, avocados were only sold in local markets, but over time, this has changed substantially, with a significant portion of the avocado crop now being exported to other nations. The majority of avocado growers are concentrated in Nyeri, Murang’a, Meru, Kiambu, and Kisii.
Ecological Considerations
The Hass avocado grows well between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level. In comparison to warm places, the fruit is typically larger in cool areas. The ideal range is 20°C to 24°C. Avocados are reasonably drought-resistant, however, for good crop development, evenly distributed rainfall of between 1000 and 1200 mm is required. To prevent root rot, they also require well-drained soils. Sand or alluvial loams with pH levels between 5 and 7 are the finest soil types.
Instructions for Planting
Avocados can be cultivated from either seeds or seedlings. Through increased disease resistance, increased yield, and increased soil adaptability, grafting enhances the variety. The appropriate staff should check the planting material to make sure it is free of illnesses. Treatment of seeds should be done in hot water not exceeding 50C.
Land Preparation
This ought to resemble the process of preparing land for other crops. To ensure adequate tillage of newly cleared land, it is recommended to plant an annual crop a year before sowing avocados. Make sure the required windbreakers, such as hedges, are in place if there are heavy winds.
Planting holes
To make crop management and harvesting easier, it is recommended that trees be planted in straight lines. For Hass avocado planting in Kenya, a rectangular layout is preferable since it makes it easier to examine, thin, and prune as well as move equipment between rows. The distance between trees is influenced by many variables, including climate and soil fertility. The spacing may be between 6 by 7 and 8 by 10 meters. Around 60 to 70 cm should be the size of the planting holes. When digging holes, take care not to mix the topsoil and the subsoil. Repeat this technique for the subsoil at a depth of less than 16 cm after collecting 10 to 12 samples of the topsoil at a depth of between 5 and 15 cm. Send the two samples to the National Agricultural Laboratories or a reputable soil testing facility.
Planting
Fill the planting holes with approximately two buckets of farmyard manure thoroughly incorporated with topsoil, 250gm of double superphosphate fertilizer, and a certified pesticide. When rain has sufficiently soaked the soil and after the rains have begun, planting should be done. Avoid damaging the roots as you fill the holes. Until the first shoots grow, water the newly planted Hass avocado trees or seeds. To support the immature plants, tie them to sticks.
Pruning
Beginning with the planting process, pruning involves shortening roots that are too long and do not fit in the planting hole. Trees are trained to maintain a strong framework in their early stages of growth. Additionally, pruning is typically carried just before flowering and right after harvest. The standard recommendation is that the height of the tree canopy should be 70% of the row width. This enables light to enter. Pruning results in a superior tree structure and increased production.
Thinning
To ensure high-quality fruits, this entails eliminating part of the already formed fruits to lessen competition for nutrients. Small-sized fruits will come from having too many fruits.
What it takes for the Hass avocado tree to produce fruit
Before bearing fruit, any avocado tree must reach a particular age. Commercially available avocado trees are grafted from established kinds, and they bear fruit more frequently and consistently than trees that are developed from seeds. Farmers may have to wait up to 15 years to develop a tree from an avocado pit, but it will take at least 10 years. Hass avocados are thought to mature more slowly and can take three to four years to bear fruit.
Control of Weeds
Reduced competition for nutrients and water results from weed removal. Mulching, cover crops, and mechanical cultivation is a few weed control techniques.
Pests & Diseases
Preventative measures are the most effective and cost-effective way to control diseases and pests. Weed management, good planting material selection, maintaining ideal plant density, and appropriate fertilizer use are some of these preventive strategies.
Pests do not significantly impair the production of avocados in Kenya, and chemical pesticide applications are only occasionally necessary. However, the following are some of the main pests that target the Hass avocados:
• A brownish, nocturnal moth called the false codling moth.
• Thrips.
• Scale bugs.
Checking for fungal diseases is necessary because they may potentially impact avocados. They may consist of:
• Scab which preys on leaves, twigs, and fruits. Lesions first appear as tiny, dark dots that are oval or long and are slightly elevated. It is managed in a manner equal to that of anthracnose.
• Root decay. It is mainly found in locations with poorly drained soils and flood-prone areas. It is also known as Phytophthora cinnamomi. Among the precautions are treating seeds with fungus and hot water as well as grafting them onto rootstock that is resistant to Phytophthora. The active ingredient in Ridomil, Metalaxyl, is a granular formulation that is put into the soil and acts by eradicating the pathogen. It is one of two chemicals approved to tackle this disease. The second substance, Aliette fungicide, is applied to the leaves.
• Anthracnose. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is another name for it. The fruits are attacked, and dry, dark brown sports result. It mostly targets ripe fruits. Copper-based fungicides are used to manage it, as well as chemical spraying with Benomyl, Mancozeb, Metiram, Propineb, Thiabendazole, or Triforine.
• Small, light-yellow spots that later turn brownish are left on leaves and fruits by the Cercospora fruit spot or Pseudocercospora purpurea infection, which also damages the fruits. It is managed like that of anthracnose.
Harvesting
Around October, Kenya Hass Avocados begin to bloom, and between June and September, they are ready for picking. Because avocados are harvested raw and ripened off the tree, it is critical to understand how to recognize the proper harvesting season. Pick a few fruits, and then maintain them in ideal circumstances so they can ripen. Fruits can be regarded as mature if they ripen uniformly. Now, this would be the time to carefully pick matching fruits off the trees.
Yield
The yield is influenced by some variables, including effective pest and disease management, plant density, and soil fertility, among others. In Kenya, there are typically 87 780 fruits per hector of Hass avocados.
Kenya has a lot of potential for producing Hass avocados, particularly for export. Some areas, particularly those in the centre and the rift valley, offer favourable climates for growing this fruit. The major issue, however, continues to be some farmers’ ignorance of the pesticides’ minimum residual levels (MRL) requirements set forth by the European market. Without this vital information, growers run the risk of producing fruits that are later rejected by export corporations. To guarantee that Kenyan farmers produce Hass avocados of the greatest export quality, every effort should be taken to educate them about these regulations.
How much a Hass Avocado farm can make
On average, a Hass tree can produce Kshs 10,500 every cycle. For example, a farmer who plants 100 Hass avocado trees per acre can earn Kshs 2.1 million annually from the sale of the fruit, which sells for Kshs 15 each. It is beneficial to be aware that market pricing for fruits will also increase to Kshs. 35, which will automatically alter the profit margin.
Benefits of the Hass Avocado
• Due to its strong market in Europe compared to other kinds, the Hass avocado variety is the most exported avocado from Kenya.
• Compared to animal protein, they include more protein and minerals.
• Hass Avocado provide the best source of healthy cholesterol.
• Hass Avocados are employed in the production of face and hair oils, among other cosmetic products.
• In addition to generating foreign exchange for the nation, they are a good source of income for farmers, particularly Hass avocados.
Potential Market for Hass Avocado
Since avocado producers all across the world have worked so diligently, it is accurate to say that the season never stops. The Mount Kenya region in Kenya, known for its rich soil and long growing season for Hass avocados, is the country’s avocado capital.
Although different-sized Hass avocados are available all year long, the Kenyan government recently prohibited the export of the Hass variety during the off-season, a move we welcome for quality control. This is done to maintain quality control and uniformity of Kenyan avocados in the international market. To meet the demand for Kenyan Hass avocados from our clients in Europe, the Middle East, CIS, and everywhere else in between, Kenyan avocado producers, suppliers, and exporters intentionally include sustainability in our business strategies.
The following sectors could also be interested in purchasing Hass Avocado:
Food & Beverage, Personal Care & Cosmetics, Dairy & Desserts, Nutraceuticals, Hypermarket/Supermarket, and finally Online Retailers.