The world's fourth largest producer of pecans, behind the United States, Mexico and South Africa, Brazil wants to increase exports of the fruit that is grown in the three southern states and, last harvest, hit a production record with 6,000 tons. A decisive step towards reaching new markets takes place this week, May 11-13, during the World Congress of Nuts and Nuts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Of the nine Brazilian companies that confirmed their presence, the only one in the pecan business is Divinut, from Cachoeira do Sul (RS).

The director of Divinut and representative of the Brazilian Association of Nuts, Nuts and Dried Fruits (ABNC), Edson Ortiz, says that Brazil is beginning to be recognized as an important player of the world's pecan.

 "We will represent a sector. We have several contacts, we will participate in business rounds and hope to leverage good contracts for the next harvests. The idea is to explore and have a greater relevance in the international market, to put the Brazilian pet increasingly in evidence", ponders the entrepreneur. Ortiz reports that exports began in 2020, with pilot shipments to Italy and, the following year, to Israel. "This year we entered Spain, the customer as soon as they received the first containers made new orders. We also close a deal with Dubai, soon they should leave the first containers of the 2022 harvest for the UAE", he says.

It is Divinut's third participation in the world's largest nut and dried fruit industry event, which this year is in its 39th edition. There will be more than 1,000 participants from at least 60 countries, including presidents and CEOs of the main companies in the sector. For more than 20 years in the market, the company specializes in the production of seedlings, has the largest nursery of covered root pecans in the world and is one of the largest fruit beneficiaries in the country.

The national production of pecans is concentrated in the three southern states. Rio Grande do Sul accounts for more than 70% of national production and also houses all the processing industries of this type of walnut. Orchards with pecans currently occupy more than 8,000 hectares in 5,000 properties, most of them family farmers. Ortiz believes that the quality of the Brazilian product should be decisive in the negotiations in Dubai. "The universe of nuts and nuts is wide, the market is dynamic and is constantly expanding, so the importance of Brazil's participation in a global event. We are in an excellent moment to seek opportunities in the sector, make new contacts and close deals", summarizes.

The harvest of pecans in Brazil began in April and should extend until June/July with the prospect of a crop slightly lower than the previous cycle.

Source: Agrolink