A batch of 338 kilograms of fresh avocados imported from Kenya entered the Changsha market on August 4, after passing customs inspections at the Changsha Huanghua Airport. This was the first time that Hunan imported avocados from Kenya.

Avocado, also known as avocado pear, has gradually become popular among domestic consumers in recent years. Kenya is the largest exporter of avocados in Africa. Its avocado harvest season lasts from February to November every year, which happens to complement the off-season in other avocado producers such as Mexico, Peru, and other South American countries.

China has approved the imports of fresh avocados from Kenya according to a notice issued by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) in June 2022.

"These avocados were directly transported from Nairobi to Changsha airport by air. This transport mode is faster and more convenient compared to that transferring to Changsha after entry at coastal ports", said a customs officer of the Changsha Huanghua Airport. In order to ensure freshness of the avocados and reduce wastage during the customs clearance process, the Changsha Customs authority gave guidance on fruit quarantine to the importer in advance, and provided customized solutions on customs inspection to ensure fast and safe custom clearance of the fresh avocados. Thanks to these measures, the customs clearance of the avocados began at 12:56 and was completed at 15:00 on the day.

The Changsha Customs authority has opened a "green channel" for the agricultural products imported from Africa. It has rolled out operable measures to facilitate importation of high-quality African agricultural products to the domestic market. 

Statistics shows that, in the first half of 2024, Hunan has imported dried and fresh melon, fruit, and nut products worth 38.574 million CNY from Africa, increasing by 39.1 times year on year.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunantoday