PO Greenhouse Film for Tomato Production in Minas Gerais, Brazil
2026-09-10
Customer Case · Greenhouse Film
PO Greenhouse Film for Tomato Production in Minas Gerais, Brazil
A Brazilian tomato grower upgraded from seasonal PE sheeting to 5-layer co-extruded PO greenhouse film — 90% light transmission for faster ripening, a 3–5 year UV-stabilized lifespan, and anti-drip protection against leaf disease in the rainy season.
Region & climateMinas Gerais, Brazil — strong highland sun, a defined rainy season, and big day-night temperature swings.
PartnerA commercial tomato grower running high tunnels for fresh-market tomatoes.
Trial scope5-layer co-extruded PO film, UV-stabilized, with anti-drip treatment.
Trigger eventPE covers yellowed and lost transmission within 1–2 years; dripping condensation drove leaf disease pressure in the rainy months.
OutcomeHigher and more stable light transmission, 3–5 year expected film life, drier canopies through the rains.
Why it workedMulti-layer co-extrusion puts UV stabilization, clarity and anti-drip in dedicated layers — matched to strong-sun, humid-season conditions.
Background: Tomatoes Under Pressure in the Brazilian Highlands
Minas Gerais is one of Brazil’s core vegetable regions, and fresh-market tomatoes are its most demanding crop. The grower had been covering tunnels with single-layer PE sheeting bought season by season. Under the region’s strong highland sun, the covers yellowed within the first year; light transmission fell just as the plants entered their heaviest fruiting phase.
The rainy season added a second problem: condensation forming on the underside of the film dripped onto the canopy, feeding leaf disease pressure exactly when humidity peaked. Between re-covering costs, spray programs and lost light, the grower wanted a covering that solved all three problems at once — without changing the tunnel frames.
The Upgrade: 5-Layer Co-extruded PO Film
The change at a glance
Light transmission
high-clarity PO layers
90%
UV-stabilized lifespan
vs 1–2 years for PE
3–5 yr
Tear & puncture strength
co-extruded multi-layer structure
+30%
Anti-drip treatment
condensation runs off, not onto the canopy
Included
What We Supplied
5-Layer PO Film
Five co-extruded layers combine strength, clarity and heat retention in one sheet — built for tunnels that produce for multiple seasons under strong sun.
UV Stabilizer Package
A high-UV stabilizer package selected against Minas Gerais’ UV index, protecting the film from yellowing and embrittlement across a 3–5 year lifespan.
Anti-Drip Inner Layer
The anti-drip effect is built into an inner co-extruded layer, so condensation spreads into a water film and runs to the gutters instead of dripping onto leaves and fruit.
What Changed in the Tunnel
The first season told the story: fruit coloring moved faster under the higher, more stable light transmission, and the canopy stayed visibly drier through the rainy months. Instead of budgeting a new cover every year, the grower now expects 3–5 years of service from the same installation.
Comparison of PE vs PO greenhouse film for Brazilian tomato tunnels
Factor
Single-layer PE
5-layer PO film
Light transmission
Yellows within 1–2 years
90%, holds through lifespan
UV lifespan
1–2 years
3–5 years
Rainy-season condensation
Drips onto canopy
Anti-drip layer runs water off
Tear & puncture strength
Thins at stress points
Multi-layer structure, +30%
Working temperature range
Limited in extremes
−40°C to +60°C
Replacement frequency
Every 1–2 years
Every 3–5 years
Performance figures are manufacturer specifications for 5-layer PO film with high-UV stabilizer package; field results vary with local conditions and installation quality.
Why This Approach Worked
💡
Light for the fruiting phase
Tomatoes set color on light. Holding transmission near 90% through the fruiting window protects both yield and grade-out — the two numbers a tomato farm lives on.
🌧️
Dry canopy through the rains
Anti-drip doesn’t make water disappear — it moves it. Running condensation to the gutter instead of onto leaves cuts the moisture films where leaf disease starts.
🗓️
One decision, several seasons
A 3–5 year covering turns re-covering from an annual cost and disruption into a rare planned event — labor the farm can spend on the crop instead.
Where the Grower Is Now
The PO spec is now the farm’s standard covering, re-ordered by roll with the same 5-layer structure and UV package. Orders ship factory-direct with the documentation Brazilian importers need, in 1000 kg MOQ per specification, with a typical lead time of 30+ days. Browse our PO greenhouse film or talk to our export team about samples for your own tunnel.
Quick Answers
Greenhouse Film FAQ
Minas Gerais combines strong highland UV with a heavy rainy season. PO film answers both: a high-UV stabilizer package for a 3–5 year lifespan, and a built-in anti-drip layer that keeps condensation off the canopy when humidity peaks.
With the high-UV stabilizer package, PO film is rated for 3–5 years of service, depending on local UV intensity, installation quality and maintenance. Basic PE film typically lasts 1–2 years under the same conditions.
Anti-drip film changes where condensation goes: instead of forming droplets that fall onto leaves and fruit, water spreads into a thin film and runs to the gutters. Less water on the canopy means fewer windows for leaf disease to establish.
Five polymer layers are extruded together in one pass, each with a dedicated job — UV protection on the outside, clarity and anti-drip on the inside, strength in the core. The result outperforms any single-layer sheet of the same thickness.
MOQ is 1000 kg per specification, production lead time is typically 30+ days, and free samples are available for trial bays. We ship factory-direct with full export documentation for Brazilian customs.
Yes. Greenhouse film is produced to order — widths up to 16 m, custom roll lengths and gusset styles. Send your tunnel dimensions and crop details for a tailored quote.
Yes — we supply free samples so you can run a PO bay next to your current covering for a season, comparing light, temperature and condensation inside your own tunnel before committing the farm.
