Práticas orgânicas/agroecológicas na produção de olerícolas e potencialidades do mercado de hortaliças orgânicas no município de Pains/MG.

This research aims to outline a management profile adopted by family horticulturists of the municipality of Pains / MG with a view to strengthening the agroecological conversion, as well as to verify the commercial profile regarding the commercialization of organic foods and the presence of contaminants pesticides in the main vegetables used by the municipal school feeding service. It is a research of an applied nature, with qualitative and quantitative approaches, with the target audience being composed of family horticulturists, adult individuals aged 20 years or more,and vegetable merchants residing in the municipality of Pains / MG. The data collected from the horticulturists, merchants and those referring to the analysis of residues of pesticides of the main vegetables used in school feeding in the municipality were given descriptive treatment. However, the data collected from the consumers received both descriptive and probabilistic treatments. The information presented showed great heterogeneity in its characteristics, especially those related to socioeconomic issues. The hypotheses proposed that most local farmers use agroecological principles in the management of vegetable production and that there are those with the potential to start the certification process of organic/agroecological production in the short term can be considered satisfied, since it has been observed that all farmers use agroecological principles in agricultural management.In addition to having been identified a farmer who manages their production without relying on agrochemicals, using agroecological principles, completes the management plan and knows at least one method for certification of organic production. The hypothesis about the receptivity of the local market to organic products could not be considered satisfied. In addition to observing the dissatisfaction with the results of organic sales reported by one of the traders, a probabilistic analysis of the information collected from consumers showed that the local market of vegetables in Pains / MG is not favorable to organic products, since that the probabilities for consumption of these products have been reduced, but there is a tendency that the next generations should adhere to these products. Finally, the hypothesis that vegetables for school feeding do not present pesticide residues above the permitted limits can be considered satisfied, since the analyzes carried out in the vegetables provided by the family farms to the municipal school feeding service did not present irregularities.