KFC

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INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS, NETWORKING AND PUBLICITY

KFC is actively involved with flower industry Promotions both locally and internationally. KFC participates in trade fairs, organizes annual Flower Days in UK, Germany and Holland and pursues other initiatives intended to grow the industry .

Current KFC membership represents between 50-60% of the flowers exported out of Kenya. We are proud of the industry’s achievements and its continued quest for improvement. In our strategic plan we intend to broaden the membership to include the small to medium flowers growers, hence become an all inclusive and representative national organization.

The Kenya Flower Council is the national "enquiry point" for the sector and works closely with the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) to liaise with government and development agencies, media, trade bodies, unions and other non governmental-organizations. This enhances networking and sharing of information.

With the co-operation and support of associate members, KFC hosts Kenya Flower Days to promote the industry in Holland, UK, Germany, and other EU countries. The Council keeps abreast with the dynamic international industry and is always sensitive to the concerns of our members, clients and other stakeholders for instance in relation to fair trade and import/export issues. KFC is committed to addressing these issues holistically.

In this regard the Council cooperates with other stakeholders and organizations to create an enabling environment for the floriculture industry locally and abroad. The Council pursues and encourages mutual recognition of the KFC code of practice with other international flower labels.

Campaigns

KFC works very closely with the local and international media on all aspects of the flower industry to ensure dissemination of correct information on the sector.

In 2007, KFC spearheaded international debate on Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Flower Miles, Air miles and Carbon Foot Prints. A campaign dubbed “Grown under the Sun” (see http://grownunderthesun.com/contacts.html) was launched to highlight the quality of Kenyan Flowers. The campaign, applauded by environmentalists arose after scientific studies showing that Kenyan produce contains negligible carbon emissions as compared to Flowers grown in greenhouses due to European weather conditions.

Intense lobbying between growers and business partners in the EU (especially in the UK) by Kenya Flower Council and the Kenyan High Commission in UK, saw a land mark statement made by Mr. Hillary Benn, International Development to ask consumers to aid "social justice" on Valentine's Day and to buy flowers from Kenya.

As part of our continued campaign to protect the interests of the Kenyan horticultural sector, KFC and Africa Practice organized a successful visit to Kenya by a former British Labour MP, Mr. Tony Colman who assessed the flower industry in light of the need to conserve Lake Naivasha.