Kenyan flowers enter US market

Kenya has started selling large quantities of flowers to the US, the world's second largest market after the European Union. The breakthrough comes three years after the country launched a US marketing campaign. In March Kenya jointly participated in the 3rd World Floral Expo staged in Miami. Co-participants included Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

Although Kenya has been looking for alternative markets as the EU becomes saturated, the US has not been an obvious choice because of lack of direct flights. Now, the Kenya Horticulture Development Programme says, with the rising demand, flights may not be a problem because the cost will be taken care of by quantities, and also because consumers are willing to pay more for Kenya's high quality flowers.

A big opportunity for Kenya could lie in the off season in Latin America, which supplies long-stem large-headed roses as opposed to Kenya's, which have smaller heads and shorter stems. Kenya, whose production is year-round, could also take advantage of Latin America's occasional weather problems, which result in shortages, to entrench itself in the market.

Seven US importers including Wallmart have placed orders. Other big buyers interested in Kenyan flowers are Sole Farms, Hallmark Flowers, Choice Flower, Worldwide Flowers, Superior Floral and Blooms Xpress. A US buyer mission is expected in Kenya next month to meet growers and exporters and to inspect the country's production systems.

Increased flower shipments to the US coupled with a corresponding growth in the tourism industry could also help fast-track upgrading of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Category A status, which would enable direct flights to the US.

The direct entry of Kenya's flowers into the America market comes a few months after three of its vegetable varieties were certified for sale by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) and the US Department of Agriculture, the top American agricultural regulatory authorities.

East African