The cultivation of temperate fruits in Brazil is expanding into areas traditionally not associated with these crops. According to the Agricultural Situation Bulletin by the Department of Rural Economy (Deral), regions such as Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, along with mountainous areas in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and Bahia, are seeing growth due to milder climatic conditions influenced by their latitude and altitude.
Although primarily a tropical country, certain regions in Brazil experience negative temperatures in the autumns, winters, and springs, occasionally even in the summer. Such conditions enable the cultivation of fruits like grapes, pears, blueberries, apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, and strawberries.
The bulletin notes that grape cultivation, especially in the semi-arid Northeast regions such as Petrolina (PE) and Juazeiro (BA), has been well-established for export markets for years. Pear and blueberry production is also on the rise in these irrigated zones.
Agricultural research plays a role in accelerating the time from planting to the first harvest for certain species. "The myth that pear trees produce fruit seven years after planting orchards has been dispelled. Agricultural research suggests cultivars that produce commercial fruit after three years," according to Deral.
Strawberry production in the 1980s and 1990s was limited to three months annually, but current national production now supports year-round availability. The bulletin also mentions the Eva apple cultivar developed in Paraná, which adapts well to warmer regions.
Stone fruits like peaches, plums, and nectarines encounter challenges linked to climate change. "When not affected by late frosts, heat pockets bring down crops," analysts report.
The bulletin further details that Brazilian imports of seasoned fruits surpassed US$1 billion in 2024, underlining the strength of the domestic consumer market.
The 11th State Seminar on Temperate Fruit Farming is set for June 25 at the Lapa Research Station of the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-Paraná). The event aims to discuss the current state of temperate fruit farming and share agricultural research solutions, with participation from producers, technicians, and sector representatives.
Source: Abrafrutas