Grown using only rainwater, Eosta’s innovative Organic Raingrown® avocados save more than 1.4 billion liters of water every year in regions where the resource is in short supply, proving that there is a viable alternative to relying on scarce drinking and sanitary water.
Volumes began to arrive in the Port of Rotterdam in March, with retailers and consumers set to benefit from improved quality fruit following Eosta’s diligent work with partner-growers to refine cultivation and handling practices.
Despite experiencing some agronomic challenges in 2025, production from Kenya for 2026 is expected to be in line with 2025 both in terms of volumes and export quality. Meanwhile, Eosta is continuing to make advances in Tanzania in terms of improving field management and handling practices at a farm level.
Equally important is the social capital being delivered to Kenyan growers through the Fairtrade program which Eosta started in collaboration with local partner Mavuno. Following successful work with the initiative, 50 additional growers are working towards Fairtrade certification, with a view to increasing overall volumes this year. At the same time, work is being carried out to ensure arrival quality and further professionalize ripeness control.
Also in Kenya, for every case of organic avocados sold, Fairtrade-certified growers receive a premium thanks to the Fairtrade via Eosta initiative. Importantly, even with this premium, these Fairtrade-certified avocados remain competitively priced, mainly due to relatively lower production and living costs in Kenya, combined with favourable growing conditions compared with other origins.
RELATED NEWS: Eosta receives new-season South African organic grapes with new varieties
The use of this premium is collectively decided by the growers, ensuring it benefits the wider community. It can be invested in social programs, such as installing filtration facilities to ensure safe drinking water for local communities. Other, smaller growers have used the premium to buy goats, providing added value for themselves and their families.
Eosta Product Manager, Jessica de Freitas, said: “Eosta began receiving new-season Organic Raingrown Avocados from Tanzania and Kenya in March. Our growers have been working very hard to improve their avocado production methods, including the pre- and post- harvest handling of the fruit. Thanks to this work, we have really good availability this season.
“But behind all of this, there is a very inspiring story about the difference that producing avocados is making to people’s lives in terms of improving their social situations. For example, a Living Wage is received by all Organic Raingrown Avocado packhouse workers in Kenya.
“Also in Kenya, for every case of organic avocados sold, growers receive a Fairtrade premium thanks to the Fairtrade via Eosta initiative, which they can invest in social programs, such as installing filtration facilities to ensure safe drinking water for local communities. Other, smaller growers have used the premium to buy goats, providing added value for farmers and their families.”
Coping with conflict
Of course, growers in East Africa are not immune to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with many exporters faced with a choice of going through the Suez Canal or taking the longer route round the Cape of Good Hope. Another concern was the regional agronomic challenges experienced in Kenya in 2025, which resulted in smaller volumes. However, the situation has since stabilized.
De Freitas added: “Although there is lower availability of fruit in general from Kenya because of these agronomic challenges, Eosta has worked hard with our growers in the country to make sure we still receive the anticipated volumes, which should be very similar to those received in 2025.”
