World
of
color
Scores of vegetable varieties take advantage of a diversity
of soil and climate types, along with the inclination of
Brazilian people to feed the Country and the world
Those who happen to visit a food sup-
ply center, a supermarket or a rural fair re-
alize, all over Brazil, something that only se-
lect consumers have access to in the global
environment: vegetables in plenty, in an eye-
catching variety and pleasing to the stom-
ach. Scores of species and varieties, enough
to satisfy all tastes and meet all purposes.
This does not only hold true for the vast-
ly known and most consumed vegetables,
but particularly for the scores of regional
surprises, which expand significantly in the
Northeast and within the Amazon context.
Green salads, legumes, spices and herbs are
greatly appreciated by those who work in
restaurant kitchens, from casual dining to
five-star eateries. For the people in general,
these vegetables, in a variety of colors, pro-
vide for varied, healthy and delicious meals,
making life easier and more enjoyable.
In this edition of the 2016 Brazilian Vege-
tables Yearbook, besides updating the gener-
al production and market details, at domes-
tic consumption and exports, special heed is
devoted to the vegetables of species in great
demand. They are the ones that account for
the biggest volumes, whilst generating a big
number of jobs and expressive revenue.
Although the economic crisis, over-
whelmingly present since early 2015, has
inhibited great investments and caused
consumption to shrink considerably, the
vegetable segments have been coming up
with new plans. After all, families know all
too well that alternative food sources are
within reach, and vegetables are unreplace-
able. Besides being a source of health and
well-being, they provide for the energy that
sustains a better quality of life.
All things considered, across all Brazilian
regions, vegetable gardens continue in full
swing, plantings and harvest take place on
a daily basis. Every day, fresh vegetables, le-
gumes and culinary herbs are greatly demand-
ed by housewives, at street fairs and supermar-
kets. It is something that will never change!
Sílvio Ávila
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