Despite ranking behind its neighboring countries Argentina and Uruguay in terms of organic farmland, the cultivated area in Brazil has been growing in recent years, reaching nearly 1.2 million hectares in 2018. The spread in the surface for organic crops has been accompanied by a rise in producers and producing units in this sector. Most organic producers in Brazil worked in crop related categories such as fruits and vegetables, with less than ten percent producing organic dairy. Sales of organics are still a mainly local business, with the majority of producers selling their products directly to the consumer, or through organic markets.
Although consumption of organic products currently accounts for a rather marginal share of the health and wellness industry in Brazil, these figures are rising. According to a 2019 survey, nearly one in every five Brazilian consumers bought organic products, out of which more than a third purchased these products more than five times a week. Among these consumers, fruit and leafy veggies were favorites, with a similar share purchasing non-food products such as personal hygiene commodities. Despite the rising figures in the industry, addressing challenges of price and accessibility will be key to expand the clientele in the coming years.
