Brazil has taken another step towards seeing the diversity of its fruits conquering the world. Chile, which already purchases our Tahiti lime, has officially opened its doors to papaya. The fruit is regarded as one of the best in the world, according to the Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruit and Derivatives (ABRAFRUTAS), the entity that led the negotiations.
The conquering of this new market also included the participation of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Development (MAPA) and the Brazilian Association of Papaya Producers and Exporters (BRAPEX).
Last year, Brazil welcomed a technical visit from Chile for phytosanitary control of papaya production. The auditors came from the Ministry of Agriculture of Chile and were accompanied by producers and local authorities. After that, ABRAFRUTAS took Brazilian farmers to Chile to learn the specificities of papaya consumption in the country.
During the visit, Brazilian papaya farmers talked to importers to learn the specificities of Chilean consumers, such as quality standards, ripeness, sizes, and other information that could ease the marketing of papaya.
“We realized that, by the time we deliver a standardized papaya, with a uniform level of ripeness, Chileans will be delighted with that unmistakable flavor. The consumption tends to increase, and we will make papaya an everyday fruit in their meals,” said Jorge de Souza, Technical Manager at ABRAFRUTAS, in a recent interview.
Papaya and fruits exports
In 2022, papaya was Brazil’s sixth most exported fruit, including destinations in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other South American countries. The state of Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil, is the country’s largest papaya producer and exporter.
For 2023, the Brazilian fruit sector shows a growth perspective despite the global economic crises. Exports are expected to increase between 6% and 8% both in terms of volume and revenue, according to ABRAFRUTAS.