Arabs seek organic food from Brazil

Importers from the Emirates and Saudi Arabia sought Brazilian organic products at Biofach, a fair for the sector held in late February in Germany. A Saudi buyer purchased coffee from a farmer based in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. In all, family farmers from Brazil closed deals worth US$ 2.6 million in the fair.

São Paulo – Importers from two Arab countries sought Brazilian organic foodstuffs during Biofach, a trade fair for the sector held in February in the city of Nuremberg, in Germany. The information was supplied by the consultant for Differentiated Products and Markets at the Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development, Marcelo Nunes, who attended the fair.

The Ministry promoted the participation of 10 family agriculture cooperatives and associations in the fair. According to Nunes, one of the farmers in the Association of Organic Farmers of Taquaritinga do Norte (Aprotaq), based in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, even closed a coffee sale with a Saudi buyer.

An importer from the United Arab Emirates who was interested in coffee and cocoa visited the Brazilian stand at least three times. According to Nunes, he imports both unprocessed and finished products. At the stand of the Ministry, he also received information about tropical fruits and cupuassu, which is also used for chocolate manufacturing.

All of the Brazilian products showcased at Biofach were organic and certified. The consultant at the Brazilian ministry claims that the Arabs showed interest in purchasing certified organic products. “This is a growing market,” he told ANBA.

According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Agrarian Development, approximately US$ 2.6 million in business deals are going to be closed as a result of contacts made at the fair. Despite being headquartered in Germany, the Biofach characteristically attracts importers from different regions of the world.

Brazilian organic foods were much sought after by buyers from Germany itself, Austria, Italy, the United States and France, as well as the United Arab Emirates. Last year, Brazilian farmers sold US$ 2.35 million as a consequence of their participation in Biofach.

At the fair, the family farmers showcased 26 types of products. The greatest demand, however, according to the ministry, was for typical Brazilian products such as cashew nut, babacu oil, souari nut oil. One of the exotic foods presented was a creamy banana and passion fruit dessert taken by the Family Agriculture Cooperative of Canudos, Uauá and Curaçá.

The cooperatives and associations present at the fair represented the production of a total of 5,000 farming families. In addition to the Ministry’s stand, other Brazilian agroindustries and associations had representatives at the fair. Brazil ranked 10th in number of exhibitors. In all, Biofach brought together 2,740 exhibitors.