In Brazil, atemoya, a fruit with a unique bud-shaped skin and sweet flavor, is cultivated over an area of 1,400 hectares, primarily in the South and Southeast regions. This fruit, known for its soft pulp and black seeds, undergoes a cultivation process that spans from flowering to harvest in just 15 days. However, it demands considerable care from producers, including almost daily monitoring due to its delicate nature.
Despite the challenges, the Campal family, fruit producers since 1960, have ventured into atemoya production, seeing its potential for profitability despite the high costs associated with its production, maintenance, and sale. With a market that appreciates atemoya, the Campal family aims to increase production to meet the high demand, with a reported 237% growth in the 2023 harvest compared to the previous year.
According to Rafael Campal, plans are underway to expand the cultivation area by 40% this year, anticipating results from 2025 due to the two-year period from planting to first harvest. The Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives (Abrafrutas) notes that atemoya, along with pine cone and soursop, is part of a group of fruits that saw 986 tons exported in 2023, generating over US$3.92 million.
Source: abrafrutas.org
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