São Paulo – In the eyes of visitors to the São Francisco River Valley region, in the stretch between Pernambuco and Bahia states, the green waters are not the only feature that attracts attention. The area is renowned for irrigated agriculture projects and for sweet and large fruit that are exported from there. Mangoes are among them, and have been guaranteeing the Association of Organic Producers of Carnaíba Channel (Aproac) sales to the Netherlands.
"We shipped the first load of organic mangoes there late last year. And we should ship the second load in the second half of September," explained producer Balbina Carneiro Rios Filha. Aproac is headquartered in Juazeiro (Bahia) and includes 12 associates in the cities of Petrolina, Lagoa Grande and Orocó, in Pernambuco, as well as from the city of Casa Nova, in Bahia.
According to Balbina, farmers connected to Aproac also produce banana, coconut, limes and cassava. In the first load traded to the Netherlands, there were almost 70 tonnes of organic mango. This was the first time that producers exported directly, without the participation of a company from abroad. "Three years ago, we shipped our fruit to Europe, but always with the support of third parties," she explained.
Now, according to the producer, the idea is to invest more and more in foreign sales. "We are going to increase production and to export more," said Balbina. And are the Arab countries among the clients to be prospected abroad? "Yes, why not? We know they may be good markets," said Balbina.
The cultivation of organic mangoes, that is, those produced without chemical fertilizers, guarantees to Aproac associates 30% greater revenues than those obtained with conventional fruit sales. "Organic mangoes have more vitamins and flavour, as well as lasting longer," pointed out Balbina, always in defence of the beautiful and sweet fruit of São Francisco River Valley.
Contact
Aproac
Telephone: (+ 55 74) 3611 7785
*Translated by Mark Ament
