An agricultural crop typical of regions with low temperatures, apples serve as an indicator of each year's climate. Brazil's apple production in 2025 highlights not volume but fruit quality. According to the Brazilian Association of Apple Producers (ABPM), the season will close with a harvest of 850,000 tons, indicating a 2.16% rise compared to 2024's 832,000 tons. However, farmers note this year's harvest is one of the best in terms of quality.
"If we could define this harvest in a single word, it would be quality. This is one of the best quality harvests in our history," says Moisés Lopes de Albuquerque, executive director of ABPM. The reduced rainfall during crucial growth periods affected the apples' flavor, leading to firmer fruits with concentrated tastes. Favorable weather in the flowering stage enhanced pollination activities. Though the apples were slightly smaller, they exhibited higher sweetness levels or "brix."
Albuquerque notes, "The climate has given us a fruit with extraordinary taste quality, with a higher brix and marked by acidity, as is characteristic of Brazilian apples." Dominating the production are Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, contributing over 48% each, with Paraná, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais accounting for the remaining share.
Vacaria-based Rasip Agro, part of the RAR Agro & Indústria group, supplies 8% of the national market, harvesting 45,000 tons, mainly Gala. This figure is below the typical annual volume of 55,000-60,000 tons, attributed to excessive rainfall and warmer conditions in 2024 that delayed budding and produced smaller fruits. Celso Zancan of Rasip Agro states, "When the harvest came, the weather was warm and dry, which reduced the occurrence of fungal diseases and increased the fruit's brix." He further notes this season's flavor profile as one of the best.
The Frutas de Ouro Agricultural Cooperative from São Joaquim (SC), covering 210 hectares, experienced a 5% decline in the 2025 harvest volume at 8,500 tons. Despite this, Marciano Marques Bittencourt observes, "The apples are smoother, look better, and are much sweeter." Drier weather conditions around harvest time reduced water absorption by the trees, enhancing the sugar concentration in the fruit.
ABPM reports an average annual apple consumption of 4.7 kg per Brazilian, positioning it as an area for growth, compared to 14 kg in Europe and 27 kg in China. Efforts to elevate apple consumption emphasize the fruit's health benefits, as highlighted by ABPM's president, Francisco Schio, who asserts, "Apples are a complete fruit. In addition to being tasty, they bring countless health benefits and are recommended for all ages."
Source: Abrafrutas