Abrafrutas (Brazilian Association of Fruit and Derivative Producers and Exporters) commemorated its tenth anniversary with a notable event in Brasília, gathering a broad spectrum of Brazil's fruit producers and exporters, alongside key agribusiness figures including the Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro, and the Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira. The celebration underscored the entity's role in advancing Brazilian fruit cultivation, highlighted by recent market expansions into China for Brazilian grapes and into Peru for Brazilian apples.
The ceremony commenced with remarks from Luiz Roberto Barcelos, Abrafrutas' institutional director and founding member, reflecting on the association's journey from its inception, supported by Kátia Abreu, then president of the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA). Barcelos outlined the growth from $600 million in exports to over $1.3 billion, turning a previously negative trade balance positive. Guilherme Coelho, President of Abrafrutas, further emphasized the strategic alliance with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) for enhancing global market presence, underscoring the importance of sustainable, social, and governance (ESG) practices in maintaining Brazil's competitive edge in fruit production. Coelho also celebrated the opening of the Chinese market to Brazilian grapes as a significant milestone for the industry.
The event was graced by the presence of agribusiness luminaries, including Ministers Carlos Fávaro and Paulo Teixeira, and other notable figures who acknowledged Abrafrutas' pivotal role in the sector's development. Over its decade-long history, Abrafrutas has been instrumental in promoting Brazilian fruit production, market diversification, and enhancing production quality and sustainability, continually striving to elevate the global stature of Brazilian fruits.
Source: Abrafrutas