Fruit & Log: Bringing World to Brazil to Sell them Fruit

The world's third main producer of fruit and their products, Brazil, held earlier this month, in São Paulo, in the country's Southeast, the International Trade Fair for Fruit and Related Products, Processing, Technology and Logistics (Fruit & Log). The event at the Expo Center Norte, attracted producers, processors, exporters, distributors and importers from all over the world.

Promoted for the first time, by the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf), Fruit & Log brought over 80 exhibitors, including associations, cooperatives, producers and processors. Among the highlights of the event: International Business Roundtables with 15 buyers from 12 countries.

From the Arab world, two importers from the United Arab Emirates should participate in the event. The buyers were selected by the Ibraf in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Apart from the Arab market, also participating are buyers from Germany, Russia, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, among others.

According to information disclosed by the Ibraf, the Business Roundtables aim at expanding export opportunities for Brazil, to promote and stimulate commercial and industrial cooperation, technology transfer and the creation of mixed corporations including medium and small enterprises.

The Ibraf and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) invited foreign journalists to cover the fair. Among the publications invited are Food Business Gulf&Middle East, which circulates throughout the entire Middle East and is distributed to buyers of foods and beverages, importers of fresh and processed food, as well as restaurants and hotels.

Brazil produces 43 million tons of fruit a year, less only than the production of China (175 million tons) and India (57 million tons). The country is responsible for 60% of global orange juice exports. Of total Brazilian production of fruit, 30% is turned to the foreign market. Of this volume, 18 million tons are orange, of which 80% go to industries and generate over US$ 1.2 billion in exports.

From January to July, Brazil exported US$ 20 million in fruit to the Arab countries, which represented growth of 24% over the same period last year, when sector sales dropped 18%. The fruit most shipped to the Arab market were apples, limes and nuts, as well as orange juice.

The sector employs 5.6 million people, the equivalent to 27% of the agricultural labor. It generates between two and five work posts per hectare cultivated and is composed mainly of medium and small properties.