Wednesday July 23rd, 2025

In the interior of São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais, where dirt roads intertwine with endless rows of orange trees, lies the base of Simonetti Citrus, a company that reaps the rewards of a work that combines technique, dedication, and long-term vision each harvest. With an annual production of approximately 1 million boxes of oranges, Simonetti is one of the companies that makes Brazilian citrus farming a powerhouse. But to understand the strength of this business, we must go back to the beginning: the seedling.

The production cycle begins well before flowering. Simonetti—a co-partner of Abrafrutas through the Brazilian Table Citrus Association—invests in healthy seedlings, grown in greenhouses, selected according to the soil, climate, and type of management—irrigated or rainfed. The secret lies in deep soil preparation, where limestone, gypsum, and phosphorus are applied so that the roots can reach down, seek water, and better withstand periods of drought.

Tony Simonetti, a company executive, explained to Frutas do Brasil that the company uses waste and organic-mineral fertilizers to improve the soil in line with sustainability needs. “We have Global Gap and SAI certification for traceability and sustainability,” the executive commented.

Last year, Brazil exported approximately 626 tons of oranges, generating approximately US$650,000 in revenue. According to data from Abrafrutas, the African country of Liberia was the main destination for Brazilian oranges, importing approximately 62 tons. In the first six months of this year, Argentina stood out as the main consumer of the fruit, with over US$70,000 sold between January and June.

In recent years, Simonetti Citrus has invested heavily in agricultural technology. Drones are used both for soil preparation—with planimetric surveys—and for biological pest control, such as the fruit borer. Smart sprayers apply pesticides only to disease hotspots, and pruning is planned to standardize plant development, optimizing crop efficiency.

The entire operation is designed to reduce costs, conserve natural resources, and improve logistics. Better planning of planting row directions, for example, reduces tractor fuel consumption and shortens refueling times.

About Simonetti Citrus

Simonetti Citrus has approximately 2,000 hectares of planted land spread across 10 rural areas, with 991,852 plants, including oranges and tangerines. 70% is located in Minas Gerais, in the cities of Minduri, Cruzília, and São Vicente de Minas, and 30% in São Paulo, in the city of Aguaí. We also have two administrative headquarters, one in Aguaí and the other in Minduri.