On July 22, Brazilian farmers from across the country gathered at the headquarters of the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA), in Brasília, to celebrate the winners of the CNA Brazil Artisanal Award– Cheese Edition. The ceremony honored the excellence of cheese farmers from 22 states, representing the diversity and creativity of Brazil’s dairy tradition.
Organized by CNA in partnership with Sebrae, through the initiative Juntos pelo Agro (Together for Agribusiness), the award is part of the National Program for Artisanal and Traditional Foods, which has supported rural food entrepreneurs since 2019.
Recognizing Excellence in Three Categories
This year, 304 cheeses were submitted by 185 farmers. A technical jury selected five finalists in each of the following categories:
Traditional Cheeses, aged between 30 and 180 days
Heat-Treated Cheeses, using thermization or pasteurization
Cheeses with Added Ingredients, such as spices, herbs, or other natural flavorings
The first-place winners received the Gold Seal of Excellence, along with a cash prize and a certificate of recognition. Second and third places received Silver and Bronze Seals, respectively.
The Winners
Traditional Cheese
First – Leomar Melo Martins, Sítio Aliança (PR), “Maná Paraná”
Second – Gabriel Lorezon, Laticínios Beija-Flor (RS)
Third – Eder Augusto Duarte, Queijaria Elied (SP)
Heat-Treated Cheese
First – Carlos Henrique Lamim, Rancho Maranata (MG), with “Maranata Ouro”
Second – Ozama Padilha, Serra dos Macacos (PR)
Third – Jackson Marques, Fazenda Campo Alegre (MT)
Cheese with Added Ingredients
First – Luzita Camargo and Airton Celso, Mulekinha (SP), with “Montanha”
Second – Gezina Verburg, Queijaria Cornélia (PR)
Third – João Vicente Rodrigues, Serra do Balsamo (GO)
Craftsmanship, Identity, and Local Impact
During the ceremony, leaders from CNA and Sebrae emphasized the importance of recognizing rural craftsmanship as a pathway to economic and social inclusion. The award highlights the impact of technical assistance and rural management programs offered by SENAR (National Rural Learning Service), which has supported many of the finalists.
“This award is a great opportunity for those who do not operate on an industrial scale. In the dairy and cheese sector, the positive impact of this initiative is highly significant, as it is an activity that generates millions of jobs across the country,” said José Mário Schreiner, president of Faeg, the Agriculture and Livestock Federation of the State of Goiás.
Farmers’ Voices
“This award gives greater meaning to our work and increases our responsibility to keep producing with quality,” said Leomar Melo Martins, winner in the traditional cheese category.
“Thanks to the technical support from SENAR, we were able to improve our production and reach this level,” shared Carlos Henrique Lamim, from Minas Gerais.
“This is a crowning achievement, a recognition of our dedication,” said Luzita Camargo, who leads Queijaria Mulekinha with her husband in São Paulo state.
Brazil’s Artisanal Foods on the Rise
Since 2019, the CNA Brazil Artisanal Award has spotlighted rural innovation in products such as chocolate, salami, olive oil, wine, specialty coffee, cachaça, and honey. The goal is to encourage professionalism, visibility, and value creation in rural family farming.
From North to South, Brazilian cheeses reflect landscapes, family traditions, and biodiversity. They are not just products — they are cultural heritage, gaining more space in both national and international markets.