Mary Onsongo of USAID/East Africa gave this presentation during the program's 2013 annual meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

Overview from the presentation

Problem statement: The traditional East African diet relies heavily on staple foods; grains, cereals, roots and tubers. Low levels of fresh fruit and vegetable consumption do not provide adequate micronutrients. 

Kenya: Low income and lack of dietary diversity are key drivers of food insecurity in urban and rural Kenya. Kenyan households eat fruit on an average of just three days a week.

Tanzania: Diets in mainland Tanzania are cereal-based, consumed at least one day per week by 97 percent of households. Vegetables are eaten roughly four days per week. Fruits are consumed much less frequently, just three days per week.

Uganda: Over 20 percent of the Ugandan population is food insecure or moderately food insecure according to the Uganda CFSVA (2009). Ugandans typically spend 7.7 percent of their food budget on fruits and vegetables

The presentation includes results, graphs and other visuals that outline East Africa's regional horticulture value chain along with results of a study of regional markets.

Outline of the presentation parts:

1. Regional Trade Flows
2. Understanding Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV)
3. Value Chains
4. Wholesale Market Dynamics
5. FFV and Food Security
6. Potential Interventions