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Logistic company Mitchell Cotts Group has constructed the first vacuum cooling service at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to ease Kenya’s export of fresh produces amid growing demand.

The cooling plant, which has been established in partnership with Perishable Movements Kenya Ltd (PMKL) and Fresh Handling Kenya Ltd, will assist the country’s exporters to meet the stringent quality requirements of international markets.

Farmers and exporters will therefore be able to maintain the quality, freshness and longer shelf life of produce such as flowers, herbs, and vegetables and maximise their returns. Leveraging the service will also reduce spoilage and contamination risks, making them ideal for export.

“The service is expected to improve the efficiency and reliability of fresh produce exports from Kenya to international markets… Overall, with the installation of the vacuum cooler at our cargo terminal, we are confident it will help horticulture farmers maximise their profits,” said Daniel Tanui, Managing Director of Mitchell Cotts Group. The equipment can cool up to 2,000 kilograms of fresh produce per hour, offering a big boost to the Kenyan horticulture players who are racing to meet the growing demand for fresh produce exports in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The horticulture industry is one of the significant contributors to the Kenyan economy which hit Sh1.7 billion in export earnings to China in three months to October 2022, according to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in the Ministry of Agriculture.