Tahiti lime conquer markets and producers
Valor Econômico -9/26/2016-good prices derived from greater external demand stimulates the planting, especially in São Paulo.
With a profitability that in many cases can exceed that of Orange, whose orchards were ravaged by the advancement of diseases such as greening, the tahiti lime has attracted the attention of small and medium-sized citrus in the State of São Paulo. Even if the demand in major consumer centres of the country is firm, in sight of the producers is the increasing demand in countries that, until recently, resorted to the green of its bark especially to decorate drinks and dishes.
The fruit, which is actually a “fake lemon”, is the result of the intersection of the lemon with the li-ma-of-Persia and was introduced in California from seed from region of Tahiti in French Polynesia — why he received his Christian name. With consumption initially concentrated in South America and in the Caribbean, where growing conditions are also suitable, the species started to conquer new frontiers mainly in the last decade.
Only for the European Union, the main destination for Brazilian exports, the volume of shipments reached 80800 tonnes in 2015.91% more than in 2005, according to data from the Ministry of agriculture. “These countries are getting to know each other a little more fruit, before considered exotic. And Europe is fueled primarily by Brazil and Mexico, “said Fernanda Geraldini Palmieri, a researcher of citrus in the Centre of advanced studies in applied economics from Esalq (Cepea/Esalq).
In total, Brazilian exports of tahiti lime 118% increased in comparison to 96600 tons. With the shot, the production, which accounts for 70% of the national total, began to oscillate from 30,000,000 to 44,000,000 of 22 kilos per crop, according to the calculations of the Instituto de Economia Agrícola (IEA) of the Department of Agriculture in the State.
“There has been growth in acreage because she is already quite large,” says Katie Promicia, President of Itacitrus, company based in Itajobi, in São Paulo, which leads the national exports of tahiti. But that doesn’t mean that there is a stagnation, since old trees are constantly replaced by new, more productive.
If the area of production has remained relatively stable, fruit prices have increased in line with external demand. In 2014, reached 20 years maximum — the 22-pound box was traded, on average, by RS 32.33 that year in Sao Paulo, 41.8 * more than in 2013, according to 1EA. “With this appreciation, we realize that many producers were more interested in planting lime. So I anticipate a breakthrough in planting, “says Promicia.
And the case of Marcos Carvalho, berries grow on trees of Catanduva, São Paulo. About ten years ago, his estate, of 32 hectares, had 80% of farmland covered with oranges, but today is divided between lemon (50%), guava (30%) and mango palmer (20%). “The Orange cultivation came declining due to problems with price, cost and disease, and went on to lose space for other fruit,” he says.
“When did the lemon exports and markets were opening, the fruit began to pay better. And, with an increasing demand, small and medium-sized producers were increasing production, “says Carvalho. And he’s not the only one who thinks so.
According to Mathias, Carolina associate of Tropical Fruits, which also benefits and exports in the region of lemon Itajobi, is visible growth of the bet of the producers in tahiti. “I don’t know need, but we feel it has increased,” he says, noting that the trend has been observed since the Orange went on to suffer with health problems, at the end of the Decade of 1990.
So much interest, however, is beginning to generate some concern among major producers, who fear an oversupply following the devaluation of the product. “Unlike the Orange, whose pricing has a certain connection with the juice prices on the New York Stock Exchange, price volatility of the lemon is very severe,” says Celso Vegro, Director of the IEA.
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