Portuguese 
João Costa started with 20 avocado trees in Apucarana, Paraná, using the proceeds from his first harvest to buy a brand-new Fiat Uno. More than 30 years later, he maintains 600 trees, produces over 400 tons annually, and has ordered an additional 400 seedlings to expand his plantation.
The avocado transformed the productive trajectory of farmer João Costa after he decided to reduce the area allocated to coffee and try out just 20 trees of the fruit on his property in the Apucarana region of Northern Paraná. According to his account, the result from the first harvest was enough to purchase a brand-new Fiat Uno.
More than three decades later, that small test had turned into the main activity of his farm. In a report published on June 21, 2021, by the Sou Agro portal, featuring information from the State News Agency, João was noted to have 600 trees in Apucarana, producing over 400 tons annually, with another 400 seedlings already ordered to expand the area.
Just 20 Trees Were Enough to Change the Farmer’s Plans
João’s entry into farming began on a small scale. Just 20 trees were planted while coffee still occupied a significant portion of his 18-acre property located in a district of Apucarana.
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The economic response came quickly. According to the farmer himself, the income generated from the first harvest was enough to buy a brand-new Uno, a signal he interpreted as confirmation that it was worthwhile to dedicate more land to avocados.
Coffee Lost Space After the First Harvest
The change did not happen all at once. João still maintained a small area of coffee when the report was published, but he had already decided to gradually replace the remainder with avocados.
The farmer stated he intended to use all available space in Apucarana for avocado cultivation. The crop that started as an experiment became the center of his productive planning.
More Than 30 Years Later, the Plantation Reached 600 Trees
When he shared his story in 2021, João had accumulated over three decades of experience with this crop. The Apucarana property already housed about 600 trees in production.
The volume achieved had also completely changed in scale. The trees produced over 400 tons of avocados annually, which were sold to various regions across Brazil.
Production Began Traveling to Other States
Among the buyers mentioned in the report were markets in São Paulo, Pará, and Pernambuco. Production, therefore, was no longer limited to Paraná or the surrounding area of Apucarana.
João also owned another property in Lidianópolis, where there were another 75 trees producing. Together, the two areas illustrate how the initial 20 trees gave rise to a significantly larger agricultural operation.
Margarida and Quintal were already part of the orchard
The expansion wasn’t just about the number of trees. João was cultivating different varieties, including Margarida and Quintal, adapting production to fit the property’s plans.
In the next phase, he planned to also add the Breda variety. The expansion combined an increase in area and diversification of avocado cultivation, rather than simply replicating the initial orchard.
Another 400 seedlings were ordered to expand cultivation
The farmer had already placed a new order for 400 seedlings when the report was published. His stated intention was to end that year with more than a thousand trees.
Considering the existing 600 trees on the main property, this movement represented another significant expansion. Three decades after starting with just 20 trees, João was preparing a structure dozens of times larger.
Apucarana concentrates a significant part of Paraná’s production
João’s story takes place in one of the regions where avocado cultivation gained traction in Paraná. Data reproduced in the report indicated that the northern part of the state and the Vale do Ivaí together accounted for about 75% of production in Paraná.
Apucarana emerged as the leading producing municipality, contributing 11.4% of the state’s volume, while Arapongas followed with 8%. The individual growth of the farmer was thus aligned with a broader agricultural transformation in the region.
Planted area grew by 19% in a decade in Paraná
According to data presented in 2021, the area dedicated to avocados in Paraná had increased by 19% over the previous ten years.
Production advanced even further in the same timeframe: 34.1%. The numbers help explain why farmers in the region started to see the fruit as a significant alternative within property diversification.
Paraná held the third position nationally in production
According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for 2019, Paraná was the third-largest avocado producer in Brazil, accounting for 9.7% of the national volume.
The state was behind only São Paulo and Minas Gerais. In the survey for 2020 mentioned in the article, Paraná had produced approximately 26,400 tons over an area of 1,300 hectares.
Region had about 1,200 fruit growers
Paulo Andrade, a technician at the Department of Rural Economics of the State Department of Agriculture and Supply, reported that there were approximately 1,200 fruit growers involved in avocado cultivation.
The average yield was 21 tons per hectare. The Paraná Rural Development Institute recommended growing different varieties at various altitudes, a strategy that allowed for a more extended harvest period throughout the year.
Wholesale markets received 8,900 tons in 2020
Another indicator of the fruit’s commercial presence appeared in the five wholesale market units of Paraná. In 2020, they received 8,900 tons of avocado.
This movement generated a gross value of R$ 30.5 million, with an average price of R$ 3.42 per kilogram. During that period, the fruit ranked 13th among the most marketed in these units.
First harvest became a reference point for three decades of expansion
João summarized his decision with a direct memory: the first 20 trees produced enough to buy a new car. From then on, he gradually expanded the cultivation.
The results observed more than 30 years later were very different from that beginning: 600 trees just in Apucarana, plus 75 in Lidianópolis, yearly production exceeding 400 tons, and another 400 seedlings planned for the next expansion.
From 20 trees to over a thousand in the farm’s planning
The trajectory illustrates a transformation in agricultural practices developed over decades, rather than an instant switch. Coffee remained part of the process for some time while avocado gained ground as the results solidified.
first harvest that allowed him to buy a brand new Uno became a turning point for João Costa. For you, what weighs more when a producer switches from one traditional crop to another: the profitability of the first harvest, market stability, or long-term expansion potential? Share in the comments.
