The vast Brazilian market has traditionally been dominated by pears from Portugal and Argentina, but the Belgian Conference is now winning over consumers in the country
The Conference pear was the focus of this month’s Belgian Economic Mission to Brazil, with Belgian suppliers joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium and His Excellency Minister-President Diependaele of Flanders in meetings with Brazilian importers and retailers.
Since the Russian ban in 2014, Belgium has actively been seeking alternative markets for the Conference pear, with the opening of the Brazilian market in 2017 agreed at an auspicious time.
With a population of over 216mn people, Brazil imports approximately 225,000 tonnes of pears a year, and in recent years, thanks to online promotional campaigns and tastings by cooperatives BelOrta and Belgian Fruit Valley, Belgian pears, led by the Truval brand, have started to make a dent in an export market traditionally dominated by Portugal and Argentina.
“With the eighth largest economy in the world, Brazil still faces challenges, but there is also a growing middle class that is increasingly showing interest in quality products,” BelOrta stated. “Because the supply of domestic pears is limited, there is a huge growth opportunity for the Belgian pear.”
BelOrta has reportedly forged a partnership with a Brazilian retailer, with a commitment from both parties to improve logistics processes in Brazil and to share knowledge about harvesting, supplying and storing the fruit.
Campaigns for the Truval-branded Conference have so far focused predominantly on the state of São Paulo, but the aim now is to expand to Rio Grande do Sul followed by other nearby states such as Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Brasilia.
