São Paulo – Company Ruzene wants to export rice to the Arab countries. Four fifteen years, the family business based in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo has specialized in producing black rice, which amounts to one third of their crop. Other fifteen varieties of the grain, including red, mini white and brown rice, piagui (mini black rice), cateto and arborio rice, are planted on the 300-hectare farm too.
Three years ago, the company started exporting its products. First to France, then the United States. “They were individual purchases. Two years ago, we sold fifteen tonnes black, red and mini rice to the United States,” Ruzene rice farmer José Francisco, aka Chicão, told ANBA.
According to him, a purchaser in Saudi Arabia is interested, and Tunisia is also been studied as a destination. “A representative of ours brought a [Saudi] to get to know our farm and products around a month ago. We gave him some samples and are in negotiation,” he told.
Ruzene is in every Brazilian state. For the businessman, the foreign market is an important option to sell to. “If we get a partner in the Middle East, it’ll be great for us, since we need a representative to materialize some deals,” he said.
Last year, the farm produced 900 tonnes of black rice and 500 tonnes of other varieties. This year’s forecast is that the crop will increase by 100 tonnes.
Black rice is a whole grain with 30% more fiber and 20% more protein than the white one. “In the past years, culture has changed both in Brazil and the world. Brazilians are giving more value to their national products and are more concerned with a healthy diet,” said Chicão.
One kilo of black rice is BRL 25 [USD 6], while the kilo of white rice costs BRL 3.00 [USD 0.75]. Chicão believes the black rice will never take up the space of the white rice. “It’s a different, more valued product for people concerned with their diet, usually from the upper middle class,” he explained. For the rice lovers, Chicão said that the black rice is a higher-quality option and a success in any recipe. The rice by Ruzed is produced under the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and an agronomist oversees the whole production.
Contact Info
Ruzene
Tel.: +55 (12) 3648-2298
Website: http://www.ruzene.com
Email: comercial2@arrozpretoruzene.com.br
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
