The first 2025 meeting of the FAEP System's Horticulture Technical Committee (CT) focused on the certification of fruits, vegetables, and greens. This topic has become relevant in Paraná due to a certification program by the Paraná Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapar), in collaboration with the FAEP System.
The initiative started with a pilot program certifying strawberries from seven rural properties in five municipalities in the Curitiba Metropolitan Region (RMC). Following this, Adapar issued Ordinance 82/2024, detailing the certification procedures for plant-based products in Paraná, setting the stage for expanding certification to other crops.
Marco Antônio Machado, president of the Hortifruticulture CT, stated, "Certification brings a series of challenges to producers, who can access different markets. This is an important initiative and one that we have to consider within our production models and production chains."
During the meeting, Adapar inspector Sabrina Jacques Farias explained the program, highlighting the state agency's seal as an official endorsement audited by a credible institution with legal authority.
Strawberry producer Claudio Assis Broto from Almirante Tamandaré shared his experience: "I was part of the pilot project. From the beginning, I always had the help of an agricultural engineer. The certification came as a way to further improve my production, representing a guarantee for customers and producers, as it provides support to prove that the product is of quality."
Participation requires appointing a technical manager and completing training courses developed by Adapar and the FAEP System, focusing on environmentally sustainable production and pest and disease management.
Source: Abrafrutas
