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Since
1977, Tamanduá Farm has raised and selected cattle of the Pardo-Suiço
breed, one of the world’s oldest breeds; initially, due to its
hardiness and versatility, it was fit for three purposes: dairy,
beef and traction.
Being
hardy, this breed adapted very well to the harsh climate of the
region known as the “drought polygon”; the cows produce milk
with an excellent protein content, ideal for the manufacture of
cheese.
The
wide variety of native grasses and leguminous plants in the pastures
feed the cattle in the natural form in the rainy season, and –
thanks to silage and hay-making – during the drought, giving the
milk varied and incomparable aromas.
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Brown-Swiss |
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herd, which is now almost entirely registered at the Brazilian
Association of Pardo Suiço Cattle Breeders, in São Paulo,
quickly became a benchmark, making it possible to sell high-quality
cows and breeding bulls to breeders, even in the State of Maranhão,
who use the hardy breeding bulls in herds of Nelore cows, in order
to obtain highly resistant and precocious crossbred animals.
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In
1990, 30 hectares were planted with grafted mango trees of the Tommy
Atkins (80% of the area) and Keitt varieties. An irrigation system
using the
drip method ensures optimum use of the scarce water from 3
interconnected reservoirs, which supply the filters and bombs.
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Fazenda Tamanduá mango trees surrounde by the semi-arid
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1997, a cheese factory was built, under the supervision of the
Federal Inspection Service (SIF), and we stopped selling the fresh
milk to the town of Patos, as we had done until then.
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Today,
four types of cheese are produced, within the highest standards of
hygiene and quality: Saint Paulin and Reblochon, of French origin; Queijo
de Coalho, which is typical of the Northeast; and Ricotta, or
curd cheese, of Italian origin. The cheese is sold both in the
Northeast and in the South of Brazil, mainly in São Paulo.
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Fazenda Tamanduá
Cheeses |
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In
1998, Mocó Agropecuária Ltda. decided to follow the path of
organic agriculture and cattle raising, according to the norms of
the Botucatu Biodynamic Institute for Rural Development (IBD). The
IBD is the only certifier whose certificate is accepted in the three
main economic blocks: Europe, United States and Japan.
Certification
of a production facility, whether it be related to vegetable, animal
or industrial products, means that the following steps were taken:
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periodical visits of an
inspector to the production facility;
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IBD
certificate
seal
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assessment of the
inspection report by a council composed of farmers, processors, academic
professionals, technical professionals and consumer
representatives;
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residual analysis to verify the degree of purity
of the product;
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approval of the production
unit,
within the organic or biodynamic quality standards.
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Since 2000, the mangoes have been exported, benefiting
from the installation of our own packing-house, with a cold chamber,
which ensures perfect processing and quality. A representative of
the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply inspects all this work.
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Packing
House
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In
2003, after a
two-month analysis, and after answering several requests for
complementary information, Mocó Agropecuária received the
certification of BIO SUISSE (Association of Swiss Organic Farmers
Organizations)
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To
know all the
Fazenda Tamandua's
organic products,
please click here.
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