ISHS Acta Horticulturae 529: III International Pineapple Symposium
PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY AND RESEARCH IN BRAZIL |
| Authors: | D.H. Reinhardt, J. da S. Souza |
| Keywords: | pineapple industry, research, Brazil |
| Abstract:
The pineapple industry in Brazil has been growing strongly in this decade. According to FAO (1998), Brazil became the second largest world producer in 1997, when a volume of 1.937 million MT (15.1% of world production) was produced in a harvested area of 55,214 ha. About 76 % of that volume was obtained in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the country where Paraiba and Minas Gerais States are outstanding. However, the North (South of Pará and North of Tocantins States) has been the region of fastest growth in the 90's reaching 19 % of the country's production. Most of the pineapples (about 98.6 %) are consumed in the inland markets (around 11 kg/capita/year), about 65 % as fresh fruit and 35 % as juice and other processed forms. Just about 1% of the production is exported as fresh fruit, mostly to neighbouring countries, and not more than 0.4 % of the fruit volume produced was exported as juice. The ‘Pérola’ cultivar, whose origin is in Brazil, is grown in about 80 % of the area. ‘Smooth Cayenne’ is grown in about 20 % of the area (mostly in Minas Gerais and São Paulo States), mainly for canning purposes. In 1997 average pineapple yields were 23,382 fruits/ha for Brazilian Statistics (IBGE) and 35 t/ha for FAO. This yield could be higher when compared to that of some other countries, but it increased more than 160 % from 1970 to 1997. Strong research and technology transfer efforts carried out by EMBRAPA (Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research) and other institutes, have contributed to that good result. Some aspects of that research and development program and the approach to pursue further gains in yield and fruit quality are presented. | |
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