Skip to main content
Voices of ACES Blog

IBIP Day 3 | Bamboolin' in Brazil

Students taking a picture at a park in São Paulo

Our second full day consisted of meetings with companies focused on consumer preferences and food distribution. Our first visit was with Brazil's largest outdoor food and flower market, CAEGESP.  The presenters showed us a short video and asked if we had any questions which were translated from English to Portuguese.  

After numerous questions and explanations, our tour guide, Hencio, took us through the major storage area for all the vendors.  Two security guards accompanied the tour.  We saw a variety of fruits: papaya, pumpkin, watermelon, apples, grapes, bananas etc.  As we toured the facility, we were able to see workers unloading their trucks.  They pushed heavy carts to their stands.  One worker told us that it takes between four & six hours to unload their trucks.  In the food bank, CAEGESP was kind enough to let us sample dehydrated bananas.  This is one of the methods they use to preserve the fruit that is going old.  Once we went through the storage area, our guides brought us through the whole-sale area where the vendors sell their fruit and flowers.  This area was a massive concrete storage yard that was covered in many wooden stands.  We got there just as the vendors were cleaning up from a flower sale.  This tour was an amazing experience for us.  It gave us the opportunity to see how some Brazilians make a living and the hard work involved in the sale of produce in this country.

During a small break, we had the opportunity to visit a park in São Paulo.  This area was beautiful with a place for local children to ride horses and a preserve with beautiful trees and flowers.  We took a hike through this area while some of the group rested.  It was an enjoyable experience to have some time outside in the nature of Brazil.  This gave us some time to get some fresh air and enjoy the lovely weather that seems to be constant here.  

Our final company visit was at IDEC (Brazilian Institution for Consumer Defense). They were very hospitable and provided us with amazing coffee during the presentation.  Brazilian coffee is much stronger than American coffee which was greatly appreciated after a long day.  They presented on the dangers of pesticides and GMOs. After discussing legislation and political actions they have taken to prevent the use of GMOs and pesticide use in farming practices, many of the students had questions.  This sparked a productive dialogue with the students and presenters regarding conflicting views of farming practices.  

After our visit with IDEC, we went to the farmers market where we sampled some of the best tea we have tasted.  Chickens roamed freely in this area and music played.  We sat on a picnic bench and watched as an elderly Brazilian woman danced with one of our fellow students.  Our guide translated her Portuguese for us.  She told us the secrets to happiness and a long life.  "Health is most important.  Then family and friends.  None of the material things matter."  She told us how she was a singer and sang us songs in Portuguese in her beautiful voice.  She told us how we would all live good lives.  We left after talking to her for several minutes.  She hugged us and sang as we walked away.  We do not know if what she said is true, but we do know that we want to be as happy as this woman when we are her age.  She must have done something right in life.  Many of the Brazilians we have talked to are this way.  They have been so kind and welcoming to us.  This has encouraged us to want to learn more Portuguese so I can communicate with them and hear their stories.  We drove home on the bus and sun set over São Paulo.  Another perfect day in Brazil full of new experiences and adventure.  We are excited for what tomorrow holds.