Brazilian Producers Win Top Honors at International Cheese and Olive Oil Contests

At the ExpoQueijo Brazil 2026 in Araxá, Minas Gerais, producers from Mato Grosso earned a gold trophy for the J3 Fresh Cheese by Renata Costa Marques Neves (Produtos J3) and a bronze trophy for a requeijão by Edmar Trindade of Sítio Boa Esperança. The competition, the largest artisan cheese event in the Americas, featured nearly a thousand samples from 19 countries.

In the same edition, Minas Gerais’ Mantiqueira region secured the Super Ouro, the premier award, with the Maranata Ouro cheese produced by Henrique Lamim of Rancho Maranata in Virgínia. This marks the second consecutive Super Ouro for Brazil, reinforcing the country's prominence in artisanal cheese making.

Separately, the Alto da Serra Blend olive oil from Cristina, southern Minas, was awarded a gold medal at the Evo International Olive Oil Contest 2026 in Palmi, Calabria, Italy, ranking among the five best South American entries. Producer Alisson Moreira highlighted the role of the Epamig experimental farm in Maria da Fé, where the oil is extracted. Five Minas olive oils also reached the finalist stage of the CNA Brazil Artesanal 2026 award.

These accolades underscore the growing quality and international recognition of Brazil’s artisanal dairy and olive‑oil sectors.