Overview of the Brazilian Strawberry Industry

We’ve just returned from an exciting visit to the vast country of Brazil. On a national level, it produces strawberries over 4500 hectares, which are principally split between two main growing locations. The short-day strawberry types are planted in the southern part of Minas Gerais and up to the northern Sao Paulo states. This area is known as the largest strawberry growing region in Brazil. The day neutral strawberries are grown in the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Caterina and Parana. Both the short day and day neutral production is dominated by strawberry varieties that originate from the University of California (Davis) strawberry breeding program. The close proximity of the growing region to the huge market of São Paulo, boasting a population of some 45,000,000 people, and which is 22% of the country’s total population, means that it is ideally situated.

Of the short-day strawberry types, the most popular varieties are Oso Grande, Camarosa, Camino Real ad Florida Festival.

The southern region comprises around 90% day-neutral strawberry types. Once again, these are totally dominated by strawberry varieties from the UC Davis strawberry program, and include San Andreas, Albion, Aromas, Monterrey and Portola. In this region, the strawberry table top production system is the most preferred way to produce. Almost all of the day neutral strawberry plants are imported from Argentina, Chile, USA and Spain. The short-day plants are propagated in Brazil and supplemented with imports from USA, Argentina and Chile.

The quality of the fruit is of a very high standard with good flavour profiles. This will remain a key feature for new strawberry cultivars entering the market.

Like many countries, Brazil is excited by the thought of potential new strawberry varieties entering the market in the future. The University of California Davis varieties will continue to dominant we are certain.