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For a long time, only export commodities are subjected to high quality checks as developed markets and consumers insist on strict implementation of designed food global standards.

Only certified food is allowed to leave the country and in case a consignment is intercepted at the point of entry suspected of noncompliance with food standards, exporters are fined heavily increasing the cost of production. 

However, established fresh produce companies regret that rejected produce at the airports later finds its way into the local markets with traders selling them to consumers and as animal feeds. 

Under the umbrella body of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), the companies complained that low adoption of developed standards has contributed to high cases of diseases, such as cancer as farmers are not able to control pesticides residue.

FPC chief executive officer Okisegere Ojepati said failure by farmers to adopt the developed standards has contributed to high interceptions of the produce at the points of entry thus contributing to high costs to exporters. “But lately we have enhanced training for our local farmers and company owners on the need to implement the standards. The engagement has led to fewer seizures of the exports at points of entry,” said Ojepati recently.

New standads

For example, between January and June this year, only 30 interceptions were recorded in key fresh produce export destinations, such as Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Belgium. 

But to ensure even the local producers and marketers enjoy quality food, such as their counterparts in Europe, the Kenya Government in conjunction with private sector players developed KS1758:2016. 

The standard developed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) addresses the safety of locally sold horticulture produce and is a code of practice for the country’s horticulture industry. The ethics outline the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures for the production, handling and sale of flowers, ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.

The Standard’s custodian is the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) for and on behalf of the industry.

In July 2021, the government launched Part Two of the KS1758, which deals with fruits and vegetables while the first once unveiled in 2016 focused on floriculture.

“We expect high demand for food, especially in the upper market areas as food companies seek compliance on food safety standards. The trend is equally being dictated by the changing food styles following emergence of chronic diseases,” added Ojepati.

Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives in conjunction with FPC and other value chains launched the KS1758 at Westlands based Beyond Fruit Limited Company. The company became the first entity to be issued with a KS1758 certificate.

The company is a new member of Fresh An Juici Group started in 2017 to cater for the Kenyan retail market with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Beyond Fruits Limited, was supported by the five-year The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme -Kenya Crops and Dairy Market System (KCDMS) activity through FPC, to implement the KS1758 standard on its 12-acre farm (Belmont Farm) in Limuru, as well as its farm to market logistics. The organisation is the first food outlet to start selling certified fruits before the same is rolled out to other retail chains.

Hotels and restaurants

The new safety code has also been rolled out in Kongowea Market, Mombasa County starting with Muchicha, a popular traditional vegetable at the coast. It will also be rolled out in hotels and restaurants and other open-air markets in Nairobi metropolitan area, Mombasa and Kisumu cities, among other urban centres. “Issuance of the certificate to us is a true testimony of determination to overcome challenges in the food value chain and in the long run, the same will support efforts to expand market share in the country before targeting the export market. Our farm has been certified under the KS1758 standards and so are our suppliers. Over and above the produce we get from our Belmont farm in Limuru, we will equally depend on output from our contracted 80 out growers,” said Beyond Fruit General Manager George Ngugi.  

The company has four shops in Nairobi and plans to increase the same to between 25 to 35 stores in coming years.

He added, “In order to sustain the market demand we have over the years contracted established farms, but most important is that we ensure food safety measures are observed.”

USAID chief of party Robert Mwadime said adoption of the standards will help in solving the health crisis consumers are currently grappling with. “Awareness on what consumers are feeding on is low and thus the need for food value chains to team up and undertake intensive induction. Similarly, adoption of the designed standards will help in ensuring food safety right from the farm to the consumer point,” said Dr Mwadime.

Agriculture and Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, who officially presided over the launch, observed that the standard is an all-round encompassing area of fresh produce -plant health, food safety, environmental sustainability and worker health, safety and social accountability.

The different industry stakeholders are tasked with the duty of creating awareness on its importance. However, other standards set out by different entities need to be complied to, for example, the GlobalGAP, EuroGAP, KenyaGAP, and several quality and safety regulations.