BRASSICAS IN BRAZIL

“Summer production of broccoli grown in the highlands for the fresh market can be very profitable”

Interview with Alecio Shiavon, Brassica Product Manager for Syngenta in Brazil

Cabbage is the most important brassica crop in Brazil, although broccoli is gaining in popularity.
In an interview with Brassicas Today, Alecio Shiavon, Brassica Product Manager for Syngenta, reports that adverse climatic conditions affected broccoli and cauliflower in particular last season, as they did in Europe. Cabbage, however, was less affected.

Q. Which is the most important brassica crop for growers and consumers in Brazil?
A. Cabbage is the most important brassica in Brazil in terms of acreage. Nevertheless, broccoli production is increasing every year.

Q. Which are the most important areas for the brassica market in Brazil?
A. In Brazil, the south and south-eastern regions are the most important areas for brassicas, while Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo are the most important states.

Q. What is your assessment of the last brassica campaign?
A. In the winter season, broccoli and cauliflower crops were considerably affected by the wet weather. The same climatic conditions also continued into the spring season, and so the final market price was higher than in 2008.
On the other hand, since cabbage is grown all year round, it was not affected in the same way.

Q. How has the Brazilian brassica market developed in the last few years?
A. The total acreage of hybrid white cabbage has reached 25.000 hectares with around a third  is OP.
The broccoli market is divided into the fresh and processing segments, covering a total of 6000 ha.  In Brazil, there is also a specific type of broccoli: an OP multi-branch brassica, which has an acreage of 6000 hectares.
Cauliflower may be divided into two types: the sub-tropical and the winter type. Sub-tropical cauliflower is grown on 3500 hectares, while winter cauliflower accounts for 4000 hectares.

Q. Which are the new profitable markets for the brassica sector?
A. Broccoli processing is an up and coming segment in Brazil.
Summer production of broccoli grown in the highlands for the fresh market can be very profitable.
Generally, green food is an opportunity too, while crops such as Romanesco and Brussels sprouts are key niche markets.

Q. What represents the biggest threat to the brassica sector at the moment?
A. The most challenging of a number of threats affecting the sector would be unstable prices when growers come to sell their production.

Q. How are brassicas eaten in Brazil?
A. Cauliflower and broccoli are normally eaten boiled.
As for cabbage, it is eaten sliced in thin strips, boiled or like it is eaten in German cuisine: the leaves are wrapped like cigars around rice and meat.

Q. What is the most important characteristic of a brassica in the eyes of the consumer and the grower?
A. Consumers want brassicas that look fresh and healthy. On the other hand, the most important characteristic for growers is that it should be able to adapt to climatic conditions.

Q. Which countries does Brazil import brassicas from?
A. Brazil imports brassica seeds from several countries like the USA and Europe.
Brazil does not import brassicas as the final product like cauliflower curts  or cabbage heads.

Q. Which are the most important diseases that affect brassicas in Brazil?
A. As a tropical country, the main diseases that affect brassicas are Black Rot, Bacterial Spot and Clubroot.
The pest that poses the most serious threat to brassica production is the Diamondback Moth.

S&G Brassicas Today - June 2010