Kenyan agricultural exports set to make first entry into US retail markets

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe met the delegation led by Gavin van der Burgh (CEO) and held engagements with government agencies and top private-sector players across floriculture, coffee, macadamia, apparel, grains and animal feed sectors.

CS Kagwe noted that the Ministry will continue strengthening traceability, compliance, and market-readiness systems to expand Kenyan exports owing to strong mutual trade, a private-sector-led model, and enhanced collaboration to meet U.S. market standards.

“We are going as private-sector as possible, supporting our producers to meet global demands through better pest control, post-harvest handling, and value addition. Kenya is ready—and we want this partnership to transform livelihoods for our farmers,” he noted.

He added that under President William Ruto’s BETA agricultural transformation agenda.

The USATD team announced immediate priority sectors for U.S. retail markets, including major chains such as Walmart:

"From an agricultural export perspective, there is a strong appetite and there will be some quick short-term wins. We will keep the ministry updated on the progress. Our focus is on the exports from here to retail markets," USATD CEO Van Der Burgh noted.

This follows Kenya earlier trip to the US in September, when CS Kagwe secured U.S. commitment to expand the import window for Kenyan agricultural goods.

One of the key successes came from export company Nouvelle Blooms Ltd, and has secured agreements to export over 4 million stems of premium Kenyan roses per month to the U.S. and will also supply Kenyan coffee directly to American buyers.

The delegation confirmed that macadamia will form part of the first wave of Kenyan produce exported into American retail outlets.

Kenya has been keen on positioning itself as a global agri-export powerhouse to have its products placed on premium U.S. shelves, ensuring farmers benefit from higher prices and stable markets.