Granja Murata

An extremely productive family property on its 7 alqueires, Granja Murata is located on Vicinal Noritaru Murata, in the Lagoa Seca neighborhood, in the Municipality of Rancharia, State of São Paulo (Brazil). Access to the property is by a dirt road near the highway linking the municipalities of Rancharia and Quatá. The owner grows exotic fruits, such as lychee, Asian pear and dragon fruit, the latter obtained from a cactus, as well as red guava (using the “bagging” method for pest protection), grape and peach. It also has recently imported flowers from the African continent, as well as pupunha palm heart, intended for sale in supermarkets in the region and to the CEASA in the city of São Paulo and in Presidente Prudente.

The pupunha palm grove is approximately 45 years old, with constant productivity and excellent quality, and is managed, processed and finished on the farm itself, coming out as a preserved product with added value and refined flavor. Practically all parts of the heart of palm extracted from this palm are used and sold in three forms: in small, tender circular slices (the so-called core of the palm heart), in the traditional or whole format (the crunchier part, but very tender) and in cubes (a somewhat tougher part), the latter being much sought after and sold to snack bars and pizzerias in the city of Rancharia.

Some time ago, the producer decided to try growing dragon fruit, or “saborosa,” as it is popularly known in some regions, precisely to observe how it adapts to the lands of Granja Murata. Another production at the trial stage is the cultivation of two species of African flowers – bastão-de-frade and bastão-de-imperador – whose growth occurs essentially in flooded areas, marshes and mud flats.

It has close ties with academia and educational institutions in general, as it provides internships for the universities UFMG, UEL, UNESP (Ilha Solteira and Jaboticabal campuses) and ESAPP (Paraguaçu Paulista), and is an active participant in a group of researchers from the city of Presidente Prudente who organize studies, lectures and conferences in the field.