Last year, exports and the trade balance of the agribusiness Brazil reached new records, respectively of US$ 166.3 billion and US$ 150 billion, with the soybean complex leading, followed by meat, forestry products and sugar and alcohol.

But another segment also had its highest export value: fruit growing, with US$ 1.23 billion and a volume of 1.08 million tons.

Despite the impressive number, there is an intriguing question behind it: Brazil is the 3rd largest fruit producer in the world, with a gross value close to US$ 12 billion, but it is the 24th exporter.

The explanation for this is that we have a large domestic market for fruits, consuming almost 90% of our production, which is worth US$ 11.8 billion.

But it's not enough. We have a wide diversity of biomes, with very different climates and soils, which allows us to produce the most varied fruits during almost every month of the year on 2.5 million hectares, generating 5 million jobs, and with one characteristic, the to enable small producers due to the high value of the products.

We produce and export mangos, melons, grapes, watermelons, avocados, apples, bananas, figs, peaches, pineapples, guavas, oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, persimmons, coconuts, pears, açaí, kiwis, cherries, apricots and many others. We sell to the Netherlands, England, Spain, the United States, Canada, Portugal, Germany, France, India, the United Arab Emirates, and even Argentina and Uruguay. We can sell more and to other markets. What is missing?

In fruit growing, the exporter is the producer himself, and trading companies are much smaller than those that operate in other markets. Therefore, it is essential that producers, especially small ones, organize themselves into cooperatives that develop skills to access the international market.

Another bottleneck is internal logistics: without a well-articulated cold chain, only those close to ports and airports are competitive to export.

We need a lot of research and innovation. Consumers are eager for new flavors and colors… Adding value is fundamental. Except for juices, especially orange juice, there is still little industrialization in the segment.

The health issue is also relevant, even being considered national security in some markets.

From the above, it is clear that public policies are necessary to meet various demands, such as logistics and health. A well-done public/private strategy can generate better competitiveness in such an important sector.

Source: https://www.estadao.com.br/amp/economia/roberto-rodrigues/estrategia-para-frutas/