São Paulo – Former maid Maria Selma Costa, 37 years old and a mother of three, became a popcorn vendor after losing her job three years ago. She joined the statistics of thousands of workers who provide for their family through informal work. Every day, she loads her cart with sweet and salty popcorn and stands by a private hospital in the city of Aracaju, capital of the state of Sergipe. She sells from 40 to 50 baggies per day, for 1.50 real (US$ 0.85) each.
There was nothing too new in Selma’s routine up until February of this year, when an employee of the Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras approached her, interested in buying a large volume of popcorn. "He asked if I could cook up 20 bags weighing 3.4 kilograms each," said Maria Selma. In the beginning she found the request a bit odd, especially when she learnt that the popcorn would be thrown at sea. "But I thought it was worth taking up the challenge," she explained.
The popcorn that Selma supplies is used in oil spill simulations at offshore rigs in the state of Sergipe. Biodegradable, it has replaced the polystyrene buoys that were previously used in the simulations.
The simulations take place when the Brazilian Environment Institute (Ibama) tests the effectiveness of Petrobras’ contingence plan in Sergipe to contain and manage environmental hazard that may be caused by an accident of the type. The tests are conducted periodically. The disaster that occurred in April in the Gulf of Mexico at an offshore oil rig, and which made the news the world over, is a warning of the need to set regulations in order to fight oil spills.
According to Petrobras’ press office, the company still uses popcorn for oil spill simulation drills in some areas. However, the technique is being re-evaluated.
After setting the price and the deadline for delivery, Selma found out that in order to become a supplier of Petrobras, she needed to regularize her company and obtain a federal tax ID number. The solution that she found out was to register as an Individual Entrepreneur. The process is done via the internet, at the Entrepreneur’s Portal (www.portaldoempreendedor.gov.br), and does not require a signature or for documents to be submitted to the Department of State.
"I had not gone formal before due to lack of knowledge. I used to think it was difficult and very expensive," says the entrepreneur, who is now cooking the second order for Petrobras. "This time they have ordered 30 kilograms of popcorn, and now I own a company, so I can buy maize directly from the representative," she celebrated.
Selma proudly explains that her popcorn has always been very successful among customers because she uses the proper type of corn and no fat. "I always say my popcorn is light and crunchy. I cook my sweet popcorn with chocolate and sugar, and the salty one is salted on the spot," she taught.
Enthused about the new opportunities for her company, she is already making plans for the future. "I am going to hire an employee to watch over another cart, in another spot in the city, and I will also buy a larger machine in order to produce faster, and in greater quantities," she said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
