Research drives new phase of fruit farming in the forested area of Minas Gerais **Translation:** Research drives new phase of fruit farming in the forested area of Minas Gerais

Projects evaluate red fruits, citrus fruits, passion fruit, and sustainable practices aimed at increasing productivity and generating income.

At the Experimental Field of the Minas Gerais Agricultural Research Company (EPAMIG) in Leopoldina, the focus is on increasing efficiency in the field, generating new income opportunities, and expanding the diffusion of technologies for rural producers. One of the projects is the cultivation of red fruits—especially blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The objective is to evaluate the economic and agronomic viability of these crops in a region that is not yet traditional for this type of production. The cultivation is a promising alternative due to its low implementation cost and high potential for marketing, both for fresh consumption and for industrial processing. "The region is not yet traditional for the production of red fruits. Given this, the viability of cultivating these fruit trees is being evaluated and different varieties are being analyzed, considering agronomic aspects, productivity, quality, and post-harvest, in addition to the agroclimatic zoning," explained ...