Bona Fruit, based in Amazonas, Brazil, began exporting açaí sorbet last year, with its first shipment sent to Australia. The buyer later placed monthly orders, and the company has since added regular exports to Japan and the United States.
Founder Cardoso, a military police officer, and his partner Letícia, an educator, initially invested between R$6,000 and R$8,000 (US$1,050 to US$1,400) per month in private consulting services to learn about export certification, packaging standards, and international markets. "We paid for a year without seeing results. Then, we discovered agroBR, which provided us with free training, guidance on networking, and access to trade shows. We just returned from Expo Santa Cruz in Bolivia, we went to Australia in June of this year, and also to Peru, in addition to participating in in-person and virtual business meetings in Brazil," Cardoso said.
AgroBR is an initiative of the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) in partnership with ApexBrasil, the federal government, and Sebrae. The program supports small and medium-sized rural producers in entering international markets.
Due to high tariffs of about 50 per cent on Brazilian products in the United States, Bona Fruit temporarily suspended exports there for two months. "The price went down here and the importer paid a little more there," Cardoso explained. A recent agreement has allowed shipments to resume.
Exports currently represent 30 per cent of the company's sales volume and 40 per cent of its revenue. Bona Fruit produces around 280 tons of açaí pulp and 180 tons of sorbet per month. The company plans to expand its plantation area and processing capacity to export 70 per cent of its total output. It employs 36 workers and is negotiating new supply contracts with buyers from Europe and South America.
Harvested açaí is processed immediately after collection, including washing, blanching, and pulping on the same day, before being stored at below -18°C. The company uses hooks to harvest fruit clusters and sources additional açaí from suppliers engaged in extractive harvesting.
The plantation is fully irrigated and uses organic fertilizer, while the water used in processing is treated following a circular economy model. Açaí seeds are sold to companies that use them as a renewable substitute for coal in steel production.
At COP30 in Belém, Bona Fruit plans to launch a startup to collect and trade açaí seeds in partnership with other producers, connecting suppliers and collectors within a structured network.
Source: Globo Rural / Abrafrutas
