🌱 Tanzania’s Apple Ambition: How Tamu Tamu is Seeding a Fruit Revolution Across Africa

By Kilimokwanza.org Team | March 2025

In the highlands of Tanzania, where the air is crisp and fertile lands sprawl across mountainous elevations, an agricultural transformation is quietly taking root. Tamu Tamu Tanzania (TTT), a forward-thinking agribusiness enterprise, is leading a continental charge to reshape how and where apples are grown in Africa.

With its latest catalogue for March 2025, valid until June 30, the company is not just marketing apple trees—it’s selling a vision of sustainable prosperity.

“We are not just growing apple trees; we’re planting the seeds for Africa’s sustainable future,” reads the company’s bold mission.

🌍 A Climate-Smart Apple Movement

Traditionally, apple cultivation has been confined to temperate zones. But TTT has flipped the script by successfully identifying and nurturing apple varieties adapted for Equatorial climates. From the red-blushed Anna to the honey-sweet Mutsu, nine meticulously selected varieties will be available for export during the 2025 mid-year season.

This development is significant. Africa’s dependence on imported apples contributes to high prices, carbon-heavy transport, and an underutilization of its own rich soils. TTT is bridging this gap by empowering farmers to grow apples locally—even in challenging soils and lower chill environments.

🌳 Apples for Generations

Unlike seasonal cash crops, apple trees are long-term investments. TTT says their semi-dwarfing MM111 rootstock trees can bear fruit for over 50 years. These rootstocks are robust, tolerant of drought, poor soil, and even the notorious Woolly Apple Aphid.

At full maturity by year eight, each tree can yield 30 kilograms of fruit annually, translating to roughly 33 tonnes per hectare—or up to 200,000 apples.

TTT’s investment model supports smallholder and commercial growers alike, offering discounted pricing for early adopters. A single tree costs $6 for pre-orders made before April 30, 2025 ($7 thereafter), with a minimum order of 500 trees.

📦 Exporting Opportunity and Hope

From July 20 to August 10, 2025, bare-rooted apple trees will be shipped to regional partners via road or air. With smart logistics and fast delivery—just 7 days to the customer’s port of entry—TTT is positioning Tanzanian apples as a pan-African commodity. The trees are resilient in transit, safe in cold storage for up to 15 days.

TTT also supports varietal selection based on local elevation and climate, ensuring farmers choose cultivars that match their orchard needs and pollination cycles.

🌺 Harvesting Potential

From the early maturing Dorsett Golden to the late-season Dixie Red Delight, the varieties cater to elevations between 1000 and 1800 meters. The carefully curated harvest calendar extends from November to May, creating opportunities for staggered harvesting and continuous market presence.

“Spread production by selecting a range of early, medium, and late maturing varieties where possible,” advises the catalogue.

TTT’s educational YouTube playlist further supports farmers with tutorials and orchard prep tips, aiming to maximize orchard productivity before planting the first tree.

💡 The Future is Fruiting

As African governments call for agricultural innovation and import substitution, initiatives like Tamu Tamu’s are lighting the way. With apples no longer confined to cold climates, Tanzania is showing that local innovation, environmental awareness, and agribusiness expertise can yield both nutritional and economic dividends.

For the thousands of farmers who see apple farming not just as a crop but as a legacy, the time to plant is now.

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Contact Tamu Tamu Tanzania:
📧 info@tamutamutanzania.com | 📞 +255 776 272 836
🌐 www.tamutamutanzania.com | 📸 @tamutamutanzania

Download the entire catalogue here.