Linking Food Safety to Market Access
Who
SNV-led HortIMPACT programme, with Green Rhino Kenya / Healthy Green Choice and partners in Kenya’s horticulture sector.
Service
Market Readiness & Compliance, Market Entry, Value Chain Development
What
Supporting small and medium-sized horticulture producers, aggregators and market actors to improve food safety, traceability and compliance, and linking these improvements to stronger market access.
Where
Kenya
When
2015–2019, with Healthy Green Choice continuing as a food-safety and market-readiness platform.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
With this project Green Rhino worked to strengthen Kenya’s horticulture sector by connecting small and medium-sized farmers to safer, more reliable and more inclusive markets.
Within the programme, Healthy Green Choice focused on linking food-safety practices with market access — helping producers, aggregators and buyers build the trust and systems needed for stronger horticulture value chains.
Did you Know?
Food safety is not separate from market access.
For fresh produce, buyers need confidence: confidence in how food is grown, handled, transported and documented. Producers, in turn, need systems that help them understand and meet those expectations.
How did this Project Achieved its Goals?
- Food safety as a route to market: Strengthened food-safety practices to help producers meet market requirements.
- Market access: Connected horticulture producers with formal buyers and off-takers.
- Private-sector engagement: Combined private-sector expertise with social impact solutions.
- Inclusive value-chain development: Supported small and medium-sized farmers, including women and youth.
- Commercial opportunities: Helped create new economic opportunities through stronger links with processors, restaurants and supermarkets.
Food Safety & Compliance
The project supported producers and value-chain actors in improving food-safety practices and market readiness, helping them respond to buyer expectations and access more formal horticulture markets.
Inclusive Horticulture Development
By working with small and medium-sized farmers, including women and youth, the project contributed to more inclusive horticulture value chains in Western Kenya and the Nyanza region.
Market Linkages
The project connected producers with off-takers, including a tomato processor exporting to Europe, restaurant chains and supermarkets. These linkages helped turn food-safety improvements into concrete market opportunities.
Sustainable Income Opportunities
The project aimed to create sustainable income and employment opportunities in Kenya’s agri-food sector by linking production, food safety and commercial market access.
Producers Reached
- 40.5% women producers — approximately 405 women
- 25.56% youth producers — approximately 256 youth
New Economic Opportunities Created
Market access through off-takers, including:
- 1 tomato processor exporting to Europe
- 2 restaurant chains
- 2 supermarkets