Frutas nativas da Região Sul do Brasil: você conhece e consome?

Abstract

Brazil has a vast plant biodiversity and large territorial extension, which makes our native flora one of the richest sources of substances with biological properties, with great potential for commercial exploitation. However, the reduced diversity of fruits used in Brazilian food, given so many possibilities, constitutes a threat to food sovereignty, putting these native species at risk. This work aims to investigate the knowledge of consumers about native fruits from the southern region of Brazil and develop an informative booklet. To carry out this work, data was collected through a questionnaire prepared and made available on Google forms®, during the period from April to May 2021. The fastest and most consumed native fruits among the research participants were the butiá, jabuticaba, pitanga and araçá. All natives addressed in the study evaluating a good sensory acceptance among consumers, indicating a potential consumer market. Still, native fruits are explored in the form of by-products, and butiá, jabuticaba and pitanga were the fruits that have the greatest application as sweets. In addition to the native fruits explored in the study, consumers reported knowing other native fruits from the South region, such as uvaia and araticum, and having native fruit trees in their homes. More studies and actions with the community are provided to disseminate information about native fruits and incentives for consumption by the population in order to ensure that this cultural and genetic heritage is preserved