Brasília, 11/26/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - According to minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, Brazil could quadruple its fruit production and exports over the next three years.

From January to October of this year, Brazil exported fruit worth US$267 million in a sector that now employs 4 million workers.

The fruit sector is labor intensive, creating 3 direct and permanent jobs, along with 2 indirect jobs, for every US$10,000 invested. It has a total annual value of US$11 billion.

Brazil now produces 40% of all tropical fruit in the world. (AB)