Attentive to a global trend in the search for food grown in a sustainable and organic way, a new Brazilian farming and export business called Farmer Brazil, under the brand Verdena, has been established. Leading the new 1 000 hectare farm with about $5 million invested in new plantations and a packhouse, is CEO José Sampaio Correa Sobrinho, and manager André Augusto Zanchetta Briso (with over 40 years’ experience in growing and selling fruit).
The Farmer Brazil structure consists of orchards located in the city of José Bonifácio, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil on the group’s farm. It has over 1,000 hectares on the banks of the Nova Avanhandava dam. The pack house is in the city of Jaú, also in the state of São Paulo where processing, packaging, and the production of juices and essential oils will take place.
Augusto says in 2022 they have planted 106 hectares of Tahiti Lime (Persian lime). They aim to plant a full 300 hectares by 2030. Harvesting will start in 2024, to produce 9,000 tonnes per year, for the organic, juice, and essential oil market. They have also planted seven hectares of avocado trees this year, with harvesting set to start in 2024, with a production of 100 tons per year. Farmer Brazil has also planted 30 hectares of sweet potato with harvesting set to begin in the first half of 2023, with a production of 600 tonnes per year. they also This year they planted 7.5 hectares of Purple passionflower (Passiflora Incarnata L.) and black sage or wild sage (Varronia curassavica) with harvesting to begin in the first quarter of 2023, with a production of 40 tonnes per year, intended for the pharmaceutical market.
“So far we invested $5 million dollars, excluding the cost of the farm that has a much bigger value. This is only the investments on the farm. We have since 2020 implemented the "Conscious Agriculture" project through the Verdena brand, which is focused on producing and selling 100% organic fruit and food, respecting all sustainability and environmental-conservation policies, integrating state-of-the-art technology and scientific knowledge of specialists with nature’s richness. As to the production of fertilizers and pesticides, we use our own bio-factory, following the international requirements and standards for organic certification,” explains Augusto.
Farmer Brazil is currently under the process of being monitored by national and international certifiers in order to be duly certified by 2023 to serve the global market. This includes Organic Brazil / Law No. 10,831, Organic Europe / Ec 834 / 2007, Globalg.A.P, Grasp and Smeta.
Sustainability
“We sow the soil between the planting lines with green mass composed of various native species that preserve and fertilize the soil. We’ve planted 300 hectares of forests for reforestation and a natural barrier for the orchard, against contamination from other farmers, a measure that preserves the environment and ensures product quality, besides contributing to the "Zero Carbon" footprint. While promoting the balance of the ecosystem, this area is also home to resident beehives for pollination and the production of organic honey. We irrigate 100% of the orchards with water from the Nova Avanhandava dam and thus, guarantee production during the full 12 months of the year. With the conservation of natural resources in mind, we implemented an irrigation system with Israeli technology, aiming at better efficiency and savings. Farmer Brazil holds a license from the São Paulo State Government to collect water for the irrigation of the orchards in accordance with environmental standards.”
From Brazil to the world
“Our exports are channeled through the ports of Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Bremen Haven (Germany), and Tilbury (England), where we count on partners for local logistics and our own technicians to follow the unloading and distribution of the products. I started with fresh fruit and vegetables 40 years ago. Two years ago I have been invited to join this business. We are exporting conventional fruit under another brand Arandu from our other farming operations. The Farmer Brazil limes and other produce will be packed and palletized in this new pack house and then, loaded into temperature controlled and ventilated containers. Once closed and sealed, the containers will only be opened at their final destination. We also have a proxy in Portugal, but will export directly to customers from the new farm,” states Augusto.
Looking for partners
Aiming to meet the demands of the domestic and international markets, Augusto has partners for the supply of fruits - including mangos and guavas (for the production of juice) – which is always monitored by the group's technical team, that ensures the quality of the products supplied, from planting to harvesting. “Our target is to contact people in the organic world this early, to start the conversations and to present the farm to them. We want the relevant people to come and visit Brazil to see the farm, I cannot wait for two years to sell the produce when it comes into full production,” concludes Augusto.
For more information:
André Augusto Zanchetta Briso
Farmer Brazil
Tel: +551 194 104 4772
Email: andre@farmerbrazil.com