São Paulo – This Wednesday afternoon (11), the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce held the lecture “Olive Oil in the Arab World: The Great Discovery for the Brazilian Market,” during the 9th ExpoAzeite, an olive oil industry show held at São Paulo’s Anhembi Convention Center.
Arab Chamber international business executive Fernanda Baltazar (pictured above, on the right) discussed the scenario for Arab olive oil in Brazil and worldwide. She also went over the history of olive oil making, which first started in the Arab world, as well as the leading Arab producing and exporting countries. She urged the audience to find out more about the quality and tradition of Arab olive oil.
“Olive oil making began in what is now Turkey, over 2,000 years ago, and quickly spread to neighboring countries, such as Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria,” Baltazar said.
The first secretary of the Embassy of Tunisia in Brazil, Amine Sayeb (pictured above, on the left) discussed olive oil from Tunisia, the Arab country that sells the most product to Brazil. “Olive farming is part of Tunisia’s culture, and we are investing heavily modernizing operations and oil extraction processes, as well as irrigation systems, looking to improve quality and consistency.”
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Sayeb also pointed out that Tunisian olive oils have won global contests in places including New York City, Tokyo and Los Angeles, and the country is a major supplier of bulk product to Europe. “Our goal here today is to promote Tunisian product and to try and build partnerships with interested Brazilian parties, as well as provide support wherever needed,” he said.
The lecture was attended by traders, importers, import consultants, agronomy and gastronomy teachers and others. Consultant Peter Laubenheimer, with Meta Management, said he is very interested, especially in Tunisian product, 85% of which is organic.
“I import mostly pharmaceuticals, but I am looking to diversify, and I have seen lots of quality and cost-to-benefit ratio in the products that were showcased here today,” Laubenheimer said.
In addition to the lecture, the Arab Chamber and the Embassy of Tunisia partnered up to enable people to sample four varieties of Tunisian extra virgin olive oil: Terra Delyssa Coupage Premium; Riviere D’Or (organic); Allegro, which is bottled in Brazil; and Terra Delyssa Selection, which supermarket chain Carrefour imports to Brazil.
The tasting took place in the Arab Brazilian Chamber stand at the trade show, including salad and Arab bread, and a table was also set during the lecture. ExpoAzeite happened simultaneously and in the same pavilion as ExpoPizzaria, a pizza industry show.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
