Cooperativa Agropecuaria Sarandí maintains dairy plant in Misiones

The Cooperativa Agropecuaria Sarandí Ltda. has successfully maintained a dairy plant in El Soberbio, Misiones, since its inception around 2003. The initiative was launched by local producers seeking to add value to milk produced on small family farms and provide a complement to traditional agricultural activities. Supported by the Cooperativa Tabacalera de Misiones through a productive diversification plan, small-scale producers organized to collect raw materials for cheese production.

Operating in a geographically challenging region with broken terrain, the cooperative faces logistical difficulties in milk collection. Unlike traditional businesses, the producers themselves manage all administrative, commercial, and management tasks without a dedicated manager.

The cooperative’s primary product is ‘queso barra’ (bar cheese) in three to four kilogram pieces, though they also produce ricotta and creamy cheese when raw material availability increases. Demand for their products consistently exceeds production capacity. Notably, women play a central role in the organization, currently holding the presidency and managing the processing plant.