The flavor, size and appearance of guava produced in Carlópolis (PR), in the Pioneiro North, draw attention not only in other states in the country, but also outside of it. The quality of the fruit opened the doors to the international market, with exports to countries in Europe and the Middle East.
The municipality has been standing out and gaining recognition for its extensive production thanks to a set of factors such as favorable climate and soil conditions, the availability of good production technology and post-harvest treatment. In September of this year, Carlópolis was recognized as the National Capital of Guava de Mesa, a title granted through Federal Law 14.672/2023. This is the product's third major recognition.
Table guava also achieved Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, which recognizes food safety and sustainability in products of agricultural origin. It is granted by a private organization that establishes voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the world. Currently, Carlópolis has 1 thousand hectares of guava production and, of these, 500 hectares comprise the 96 producers who are members of Capal Cooperativa Agroindustrial, based in Arapoti (PR).
With the growth of producers interested in growing guava, Capal saw the need to carry out technical monitoring with the aim of maintaining the quality of the fruit and developing even more efficient work. With a unit in Carlópolis, the Cooperative started a project about four months ago to identify the main demands of producers. Based on the analysis of the needs of each of them, the Cooperative will begin providing technical assistance to the properties.
“Until then, here in the municipality, there was no technical assistance work focused on guava. There was this lack. So we started working with monthly visits to producers to talk and present our work. Just like coffee, Capal's assistance helps to add value to production, such as plant nutritional management, soil analysis and adequate fertilization. The small details will make a huge difference to the producer”, highlighted agricultural engineer, Mabelle de Almeida Choma.
Unlike other crops, guava can be produced all year round, providing financial returns every month for the producer. “The guava trees are staggered and pruning is carried out by plots, meaning that it can be produced seven to eight months after pruning. This way, the harvest can be done all year round and not just at specific times”, highlighted Mabelle.
In addition to pruning, one of the cultural practices used in Carlópolis is bagging the fruits when they are still small. The technique prevents the attack of pests and diseases and, therefore, eliminates the need to apply pesticides.
The manager of the Carlópolis unit, Claudinei Vieira, explains that the Capal project meets the needs of cooperative members who need to establish a profitable and constant culture. According to him, with the increase in area, it is important that the Cooperative is working with technical assistance to generate results and seek solutions to daily problems.
“In this way, our assistance will take care of the quality of the guava, complying with legislation and avoiding the use of agricultural pesticides that are not recommended. Capal wants to contribute in a very interesting and promising way to the issue of product quality through partnerships with IDR-PR, universities and research bodies. And we will provide all necessary training so that our technicians can carry out efficient work”, said the manager.
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