Anthony Formusa (left), CEO of National Produce Marketing Inc., and Anselmo Spadão (right), manager of Cooperlimão, at the Canadian company’s headquarters

Partnership between Cooperlimão and Canadian company is a direct result of SIAL 2025, a food trade show held in Montreal

By Pedro Augusto

The export of fresh lemons to Canada, still a relatively untapped market for Brazilian producers, has taken a significant step forward. Cooperlimão, a cooperative based in Urupês, in the interior of São Paulo, has shipped a container with 24,000 kilograms of Tahiti lemons to Toronto following its participation in SIAL Canada, the largest food trade show in North America. Entry into the Canadian market marks a milestone in the cooperative’s journey and reinforces the Brazilian presence in the fresh produce sector in the country.

The deal was signed with Toronto-based distributor National Produce Marketing Inc., after several rounds of conversations and business visits facilitated by an international trade mission organized by the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA). Cooperlimão’s participation in the event was supported by OCESP (Organization of Cooperatives of the State of São Paulo) and the OCB System (Brazilian Cooperatives Organization).

During the event, held from April 29 to May 1, Cooperlimão representatives engaged with 50 potential partners who visited the cooperative’s booth. Of those, two progressed to more in-depth discussions, including invitations to visit Canadian companies’ facilities. Twenty days after returning to Brazil, the cooperative signed an agreement with National Produce, which functions like a central supply hub in Canada. The second company interested in Brazilian lemons is waiting on the outcome of the first shipment before resuming negotiations.

“We shipped a container by sea for this first experience, as the logistics are quite unique even for us, despite our strong export activity,” said Anselmo Spadão, Cooperlimão’s manager. “If all goes well, we plan to send more lemon shipments to this client and also finalize a deal with the other company we visited in Canada,” he added.

With 30 cooperative members, all lemon producers from the northwest region of São Paulo state, Cooperlimão already exports regularly to Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Chile. However, shipping to Canada poses greater logistical challenges. Containers must be unloaded at the Port of New York in the United States and then transported by truck or train to Toronto, requiring a strict selection and preservation process for the fruit.

“We had to adapt the packaging, select lemons with thicker peels, apply a protective coating, and keep everything refrigerated throughout the journey—this ensures quality even after nearly 30 days in transit,” Spadão explained.

The shipment to Canada was made under an open-price regime, a model similar to consignment. “The company pays a symbolic advance and the remainder is paid based on sales performance and product quality upon arrival,” he noted.

The cargo was sold for approximately 8,160 Canadian dollars (about R$ 45,000), and the lemons are expected to arrive in Toronto by the end of June. If the product meets Canadian market expectations, both parties are likely to move forward with longer-term contracts.

Entry into Canada also presents an opportunity for Cooperlimão to stand out from competitors such as Mexico, which currently supplies the majority of the local market. “Our goal is to position our product a step above the Mexican offering,” Spadão concluded.

SIAL 2025 Overview
Cooperlimão was one of more than 1,000 exhibitors from 77 countries at SIAL 2025. In total, the trade show attracted 21,000 registered buyers. The Brazil Pavilion was organized by the CCBC in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Brazilian Cooperatives Organization, and Invest Paraná. Altogether, 21 Brazilian companies took part in the trade mission, including six cooperatives and 14 companies from the state of Paraná, with full technical and logistical support throughout their preparation and participation.

In 2025, the Brazilian booth covered 60 square meters and hosted around 200 business meetings, resulting in an estimated US$11.4 million in commercial contracts expected to be closed over the next 12 months—more than double the outcome recorded in 2024, which was US$5.48 million.