Brazilian Fruit Hosts Show In Middle East

Six companies participated through the Project Brazilian Fruit, coordinated by the Brazilian Fruit Institute Ibraf, in a partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investments Promotion Agency Apex-Brasil, of the largest food fair of the Middle East, Gulfood, which was held on February 21st through 24th. In the event, businesses of USD 2.3 million were closed for the countries Egypt, Senegal, Turkey, Romania, Syria, Jordan and Algeria. Due to over one thousand contacts made in the event, the companies expect to make USD 7 million more in the next months.

With the results of this event, 86 producers and companies will be directly benefited, in addition to thousands of producers of Minas Gerais, represented by Central Exporta Minas, which promoted during the Gulfood, ladys finger banana, Palmer mango, atemoya and limes. According to Jorge Duarte de Oliveira, director of Central Exporta Minas, the event was very productive. We noticed a great interest by the Middle East for our fruit, specially the ladys finger banana, which is a novelty, because the international market is dominated by the Cavendish variety. However, the purchasers really liked the product, especially due to its sweeter flavor, and also to the fact that it does not get dark after cut. Now, we will forward this demand to the companies of Minas Gerais, but we are very optimistic that the contacts made will generate businesses for the sector.

The fruit of Rio Doce also had success in the event. In its first participation in Gulfood, the company was surprised with the quantity and quality of the visiting public. There was a general commotion due to the variety and quality of our fruit, which were tasted, and everyone was impressed with the papaya and the mango, because they are used to the product brought through the sea, which does not have the same flavor, says Claudio Piovesan, exports manager of the company.

For Ruette Spices, which participates in the fair for three years, this is the event that brings more results for the company. Each year, we increase the number of contacts made and businesses celebrated in Gulfood. The visiting public is comprised of focused purchasers, and when they go to the stand, they are already interested in doing business, says Jos Ruette Filho, CEO of the company. Currently, Ruette exports orange, tangerine and limes to 99 countries.

Processed products, such as pulp, Brazil nut and 100% natural grape juice were also presented in the event with the companies Atlntica Foods, Caiba and Instituto Brasileiro do Vinho Ibravin. Many of the visitors did not know the Brazil nut and were impressed with its flavor and size. The grape juice also caused surprise in some purchasers due to not having water and sugar added, in addition to not having preservatives.

Source: IBRAF