Brazil goes bananas for organic produce despite food price spurts

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we socialize, the way we work, and even the way we eat. As people began working from home and cutting down their trips to restaurants, more and more households resorted to making all of their meals at home. And in Brazil, this has led to a curious trend toward organic produce — a dramatic contrast with the country’s constantly rising food prices.

The Brazilian market for organic foods grew by almost 10 percent between January 2020 and May of this year, with another 2,300 new producers across the country. There are currently 25,400 farmers growing pesticide-free fruits and vegetables in Brazil, according to Agriculture Ministry data. Seventy-five percent of these producers are small and very small businesses.

The organic fruit and veg sector...