Brazil Papaya on Its Way to the U.S.

The producers from the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia will start exporting, between September and October this year, papaya to the United States, according to information published on the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) News Agency.

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified that the papaya plantations in Bahia, located between the Jequitinhonha river and the Mucuri river valley, in the extreme south of the state, are apt to supply the fruit to the United States.

The producers from the extreme south of Bahia will export to the American market about 34,000 tons of papaya until 2006. They represent about 78% of the state’s production.

In the region there are 12,000 hectares with papaya plantations. The sector is responsible for generating 12,000 direct jobs.

Anba