Kenya’s vice president Moody Awori has asked the Kenya high commission in London to aggressively lobby policy makers in the UK against imposing restrictions on airlifted horticultural produce from Kenya.
Addressing staff at the mission in London on August 21, the vice president expressed the fear that, if implemented, the move will harm the country's horticultural industry noting that the sector is a lifeline to millions of Kenyans.
Awori described the food miles concept as heavily flawed and selective. Leading supermarkets labeling fresh produce from Kenya with an airplane symbol is a great worry for Kenya’s horticultural industry.
According to Kenya's high commissioner Joseph Muchemi, who also spoke at the meeting, this will affect Kenya's perishable goods industry, which can only be exported to European destinations by air because of their short shelf life.
Muchemi recently launched a counter campaign called Grown under the Sun at the Royal Show last month to inform British consumers about the development benefits associated with sourcing fresh produce from Kenya.
"The ‘Grown under the Sun' logo will appear in UK supermarkets to remind consumers that purchasing fresh Kenyan fruits, vegetables and flowers helps to sustain thousands of Kenyans, who depend on trade with Britain," said Muchemi.
