Brazilian bananas will be a growing presence on the UK market this year as supplier Agrícola Famosa looks to significantly ramp up sendings.
'The UK represents a great opportunity for us,' sales manager Andrei Mamede told the Fresh Produce Journal. 'We send half our melon exports to the UK and we think we will be able to do the same with our bananas. We should end 2010 with 500 hectares under production.'
The melon season has started early for Agrícola Famosa and sendings have been shipped to the UK since mid-August.
'Conditionshave been great this year,' said Mamede. 'It has been very dry so we have had no pest and disease problems. Production has grown 20 per cent year on year and we have some 4,500ha of production area. We have the full range of lines: Honeydew, Galia, seeded and unseeded watermelon, cantaloupe and larger volumes of Piel de Sapo for the UK this year.'
Thestrength of the real is a major factor at play this season, which is why Agricola Famosa is targeting the domestic market and other South American markets. It is also importing inputs where these are cheaper than national supplies.
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