Fruta de Leite is a municipality in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2007 the population was 6,327 in a total area of 758 km². The elevation is 910 meters. It became a municipality in 1997. The postal code (CEP) is 39558-000.
Fruta de Leite is part of the statistical microregion of Salinas. It lies just north of the important federal highway BR-251, which links Montes Claros to the Rio-Bahia (BR-116).
Due to isolation and poor soils this is one of the poorest municipalities in the state and in the country. The main economic activities are cattle raising (31,000 head in 2006) and farming with modest production of coffee, oranges, mangoes, corn, sugarcane, and bananas. In 2006 there were 989 rural producers and a total agricultural area of 17,919 hectares. Cropland made up 1,700 hectares. There were only 2 tractors. In the urban area there were no financial institutions as of 2006. There were 85 automobiles, giving a ratio of about one automobile for every 75 inhabitants. Health care was provided by 3 public health clinics. Educational needs were met by 9 primary schools and 1 middle school. There were no hospitals.
Municipal Human Development Index
Coordinates: 16°07′03″S 42°31′25″W / 16.11750°S 42.52361°W