The largest melon and watermelon grower and exporter from Brazil, Agricola Famosa, has just concluded a contract for a direct weekly service to Europe, with owners GreenSea, for the coming season to guarantee their quality and service of their supply to customers in Europe. GreenSea, a joint venture between Seatrade and Green Reefers, operate with specialized reefer vessels connecting Fortaleza Brazil with Europe.
Carlo Porro, (second from right) with the team from GreenSea and Seatrade
Agricola Famosa, which has about 60% of the melon market share to Europe, will start the direct weekly service from week 35 to week 8, following their agreements with GreenSea. “We took this radical and expensive move to ensure our supply to our European customers. We took this bold step because of all the logistical problems we experienced last season,” says Carlo Porro, CEO and Commercial Director of Agricola Famosa.
With 9,000 employees during harvest periods, and with a current total area of more than 30,000 hectares in the middle of the Brazilian Northeast, Agricola Famosa is the largest producer of melons and watermelons in Brazil and one of the largest in the world.
“We chartered our own vessels just for our own production. Our first vessel will start in week 35, and the weekly service will continue until week 8 (2023). We will load an average of 3 000 pallets every week on the GreenSea agreement. We will still continue to load another 250 containers a week with CMA. They provide us with a very good quality service and we have an excellent 25 years old relationship with them. This will be a weekly service from Brazil for Agricola Famosa and for our products. Our clients will be better served in terms of a much higher quality and reliable service,” says Porro.
The chartering of specialized reefer vessels will run into millions in extra dollars. A lot is at stake for Agricola Famosa with its 60% market share in Europe during their season from September to May.
“These chartered vessels are more expensive than containers, but it provides us and our clients with a fast, direct and dedicated service. We took the decision to charter our own vessels. In the end it is useless to complain and not do anything about the situation. It’s a courageous attitude. We are changing around 35% of our volume going onto these chartered vessels. It is the only way to have good quality service, on the right time. Our clients are happy because they see and recognise the extra financial and operational effort for us to be able to supply correctly to the European market,” explains Porro.
For more information:
Carlo Porro 
Agricola Famosa
Tel: +55 85 991999392
Email: carloporro@agrfamosa.com.br
www.agricolafamosa.com.br