Agristar do Brasil announces new melon specialist

Agristar do Brasil is constantly searching for new materials that can meet the needs of rural producers. To help with this arduous task in the melon segment, the company now relies on the experience of agronomist José Bezerra Dantas Neto, who assumes the role of specialist in the area.

Graduated from Ufersa (Federal Rural University of Semi-Árido), José Bezerra began his career at Agristar as a field supervisor at EEMO (Mossoró Experimental Station) in 2017, assisting in internal sorting of onions, melons, seedless watermelons, tomatoes, pepper and papaya. “In March 2020, the opportunity arose to work in the commercial sector for Superseed as an ATV (Technical Sales Assistant) in Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, where I worked until December last year”, says the engineer.

Since then, the professional has charted a successful journey in terms of the results achieved in the company. “As ATV, in 2020, we were able to increase Superseed’s portfolio in resales, in addition to making the brand better known. In December, I received an invitation to return to the company's development sector, but this time as seedless melon and watermelon culture coordinator,” he says.

For José Bezerra, the new position brings great challenges. “I will focus my work on the search for new materials that can meet the needs of rural people and the market. My motivation is knowing that I am part of a company that has been in the market for over 60 years, that values ​​innovation and values ​​its employees”.

Agristar's Director of Product Development, Mauricio Pellegrini Coutinho, highlights the importance of the position for the company. “A segment of great importance within our revenue, Bezerra will have an important line of products to manage, in addition to being responsible for the Mossoró Experimental Station, where we carry out tests on onions, tomatoes, peppers, papaya, melons and watermelons aimed at for the region”, he states. 

New varieties on the market

Continuing with the work of offering quality products to the market, the specialist highlights some launches. “In partnership with the company FITO, we are introducing Beloro melon, a material that has stood out due to its productivity, post-harvest, as well as resistance to the leafminer fly, one of the main pests in melon cultivation. Furthermore, the company also has an excellent portfolio of triploid watermelons, which meet the needs of different markets, by fruit size or by skin color”, he highlights.

Among the markets that receive the most attention is the Mossoró region, which is an important hub for melon and papaya production for the domestic and foreign markets, being strategically an important supplier of fruit for the international market between the months of September and December mainly. “This region is characterized by professionalism and the presence of large groups and producing companies that use modern production, harvesting and transportation techniques, with a tendency to expand the area and diversify products cultivated in the long term”, emphasizes Mauricio.

“Our product development research seeks to evaluate the particularities of regions like this, aiming to offer varieties that meet the needs of the producer and the demands of the market. We use technology to offer the best fruit to the consumer and guarantee the profitability of our customers”, concludes Bezerra.