If apples are grown in Brazil today, it is largely due to the research of Epagri, a public company under the Santa Catarina state government. Epagri runs the country's largest apple breeding program and develops production technologies that underpin the sector. In 2025, the institution marks 50 years of apple research, tracing its roots back to Empasc in 1975, which merged into Epagri in 1991.
From imports to self-sufficiency
Until the 1980s, Brazil relied on imports of Red Delicious, commonly referred to as the "Argentine apple." The Temperate Climate Fruit Growing Project (Profit), created in 1968 by the Santa Catarina government, began research into adapting apple varieties to local conditions. By the late 1990s, Brazil achieved self-sufficiency and began exporting. Almost all national production is concentrated in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Epagri conducts trials at experimental stations in Caçador and São Joaquim, where more than 500 imported varieties were assessed. Fuji from Japan and Gala from New Zealand became the dominant cultivars in Brazil. Research also included plant propagation, rootstock testing for denser orchards, and dormancy induction technologies to offset insufficient cold conditions.
Production and markets
According to FAO, Brazil ranks 12th globally in apple production, with around 1.2% of world output. Santa Catarina accounts for 51% and Rio Grande do Sul for 46%. In 2023, Santa Catarina's exports reached US$24.11 million, mainly to Latin America and the Middle East.
In the 2024/25 season, Santa Catarina produced more than 482,200 tons, with Gala making up 40.7% and Fuji 57.3%. Apples represent an important source of employment, with the Brazilian Apple Yearbook estimating 200,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide, generating about US$1.09 billion annually.
Research directions
Epagri's work has also focused on post-harvest technologies, pest and disease management, and orchard systems designed for smaller, easier-to-manage trees. Recognition of Geographical Indication status for Fuji apples from São Joaquim further reinforced the region's profile. Three varieties developed by Epagri under the Sambóa brand are now cultivated abroad.
Researcher Marcus Vinicius Kvitschal highlighted both achievements and challenges: "Without this technology to induce budding in these plants, for example, Brazil would not be able to produce more than one million tons of fruit annually." He noted that reliance on only Gala and Fuji creates vulnerability to pests, climate shifts, and market fluctuations. Labour shortages and rising costs also add pressure.
Future research priorities include diversifying varieties adapted to Brazilian conditions, improving biological resistance, and advancing climate and management technologies. According to Kvitschal, "It is thanks to the science developed at Epagri that today Brazil, despite being a tropical country, is one of the largest producers of this typically cold-climate fruit."
Source: Abrafrutas