Greater exports and more fruit

The state of Espírito Santo has registered 30% growth in fruit production over the last six years.

Figures supplied by the Espírito Santo State Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Institute (Incaper) show that in 2002, annual fruit production in the state was no greater than 750,000 tons. It currently covers an area of 85,000 hectares and production is estimated at 1.28 million tons a year.

With this, fruit farming is already in the third place among the state's agricultural produce, with an 18% share of the sector, generating revenues of over 500 million reals (US$ 256 million) a year and some 50,000 direct and 150,000 indirect jobs.

The greater demand on the foreign market is one of the factors that contributed to the expansion of the state's fruit farming. "It is the agricultural sector that grows most worldwide," stated Aureliano Nogueira, coordinator of the Fruit Farming Programme at Incaper.

Nowadays the main markets for fruit from the state of Espírito Santo are European countries like Germany, Belgium, France and England, plus the United States. The United Arab Emirates appear purchasing a small share of state exports, but the Middle East is considered an area of great potential. "The Arab countries are still new markets, but they are very interesting for future investment and prospecting," says Nogueira.

According to information disclosed by the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), in 2007 Espírito Santo exported 16,000 tons of fruit. In 2008, from January to August, shipments exceeded 11,000 tons. Papaw is the cash cow for the state, which also exports limes, mangoes, avocado, coconut and guava.