Agrobiodiversity of fruits and vegetables commercialized in Sao Paulo municipality: evaluation of availability.

Author(s)

Julia Mercedes Pérez Florido

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR)
• Defense date: 2015-10-15

Examining board members

Deborah Helena Markowicz Bastos; Regina Mara Fisberg; Walter Jose Siqueira

• Advisor: Deborah Helena Markowicz Bastos

Abstract

Introduction- The concept of biodiversity for food and agriculture includes a set of components such as varieties of food, level of genetic resources and management systems used in culturally diverse populations. Understanding local food biodiversity is essential to ensure food security and sustainable development. Objective- To characterize the diversity and availability of fruits and vegetables in the Sao Paulo municipality and verify the availability of nutritional information of different market groups. Methods- the market-groups targeted in this study belong to the five most commonly purchased fruits and vegetables in São Paulo, according to the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2008-2009): banana (Musa spp.), orange (C. sinensis L. Osbeck), apple (M. domestica Borkh.), papaya (C. papaya L.), pineapple (A. comosus L.), tomato (L. esculentum Mill.), pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.) , bellpepper (C. annuum L.), cucumber (C. sativus L.), eggplant (S. melongena L.). The representation of each market group was evaluated by checking the retail trades from 18 districts classified by tertiles (HDI). A total of 73 retailers were evaluated (18 street markets and 55 markets and supermarkets) in two different seasons (July-September 2014 and February-March 2015). To perform data collection of micro and macronutrients, terms were used, including the nutritional composition, biodiversity, variety, cultivar, in various combinations, with emphasis on recently published data in databases composition of conventional foods, scientific articles, data published by national and international organizations and agencies related. Nutritional information were compiled into a single table. Results- Retailers located in high districts Human Development Index (HDI) showed greater diversity for species banana, papaya, apple, tomato, cucumber and bellpeppers compared to the average HDI districts (p <0.05) in 2014. However, high and low HDI districts offered similar amounts of market groups for the species studied, except papaya and tomatoes that were more frequently found in high HDI. For fruit, Banana Nanica, Banana Prata, Orange Pera, Apple Gala and Pineapple Pérola were present in almost 100 per cent of the establishments in the three tertile. In relation to fruit vegetables, the Bellpepper Verde and Eggplant Comum were present in almost 100 per cent of retailers evaluated in 2014. Conclusions- Differences in the availability of market groups from the species studied were observed, according to the district HDI ranking. It was found that streets markets have proven to be better places in choice of purchase by consumers, since in general, had higher diversity at lower prices than in supermarkets. Despite the meager nutritional information available in the literature, differences in concentration of certain nutrients to different market groups studied were observed. Thus, it is believed that the dissemination of such information can be beneficial for consumers make more intelligent consumer choices, increasing the diversity of nutrients in the diet. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/13605-8 - Evaluation of diversity of fruits and fruit vegetables marketed in São Paulo: nutritional composition of macro and micronutrients
• Grantee: Julia Mercedes Perez Florido
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master