Tuesday April 19th, 2022

Brazil is the third largest producer of fruit in the world, however, the 24th exporter. With the objective of promoting Brazilian fruits in the international market, the Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives (ABRAFRUTAS), in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), through the FRUTAS DO BRASIL project , took more than 50 businessmen from the sector to Berlin to participate in the largest international fruit fair, Fruit Logisitica 2022.

The three-day fair had a total of 88 nations represented at the exhibition center in Berlin. The last edition took place in February 2020, being the last leading international fair before being closed due to the pandemic, however also the first to reopen its doors to the global public, in the capital of Germany.

According to the event organizers, direct contact is very important for everyone. “Trust in producers plays a bigger role than in other sectors. Also because they are natural products. Furthermore, you don’t just want to see the fruit, but also to smell, taste and touch it. A picture of a strawberry is not going to make you happy,” said FRUIT LOGISTICA’s Project Manager Kai Mangelberger.

Abrafrutas and associates represented Brazil in a 418mt² stand, which drew attention for the new design presented with well-defined characteristics of the Brazilian nation. For all those present, this was a unique and very assertive moment of return for prospecting and signing new businesses, in addition to discussing with stakeholders about the global scenario of exports and other matters of interest to the chain, such as understanding the requirements and prospects of the market. .

According to the association, business during the event took place in a very intense way with expectations of generating business of around US$ 80 million. With a much smaller audience this year, the participants were people related to the area and very interested in doing business.

Mangoes, grapes, melons, lemons, apples and papayas make up the top of Brazilian exports. These and others were being represented at the fair. The international market has been looking for Brazilian fruit, says Abrafrutas’ technical manager, Jorge de Souza, who explains that the demand is obviously in line with a criterion of quality and product safety demanded, mainly, by the European market. “These are requirements that Brazilian fruit farming is able to offer,” he said.

For the president of licensed Abrafrutas, Guilherme Coelho, the sector has suffered obstacles that have hampered international trade, such as the increase in freight and logistics issues. There has been a lot of congestion in ports, which causes the postponement of ships to export destinations, creating a major problem for the sector, since it is a fresh product.

“WE HAD THE INFORMATION THAT WITH THE NEW VARIANT OF COVID IN CHINA, FEW SHIPS ARE CIRCULATING. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALSO SUFFERED FROM THE LACK OF CONTAINERS AND THIS HAS CREATED INSECURITY IN GLOBAL LOGISTICS”, SAID GUILHERME COELHO.

For the largest mango exporter in Brazil, producer and entrepreneur Paulo Dantas, says that these days were a great opportunity to resume all business and contact with customers. Dantas explains that despite this pandemic period, there was no interruption in the shipment of fruits to the international market, however, participation in the fair in person makes business more effective, in addition to the perception of the greatness of fruit growing, in particular, the potential of the Brazil.

“AT A FAIR LIKE THIS, WE UNDERSTAND HOW BIG THE WORLD FRUIT MARKET IS AND THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE AND CAN STILL DEVELOP,” SAID THE PRODUCER.

At the stand in Brazil, it was possible to see that in fact the need for the face-to-face event was urgent, as the tables were full of negotiators at all times.

Also on the last day, Abrafrutas received a visit from representatives of Banco do Brasil SA, from the Frankfurt branch, Joan Riutort Magg and Nildo Ribeiro do Rosário Neto to discuss support and investments aimed at fruit producers and exporters.

By: Telma Martes, Abrafrutas communication