The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry met in Horta with the boards of CALF and Leite Montanha cooperatives, highlighting the quality and competitiveness of the industry.
 
"The industry, both on Faial and Pico, has developed a strategy to promote its products," stressed João Ponte, who spoke Wednesday at the end of the meetings. According to him, "this is fundamental to the success of the industry itself," but also "to the creation of conditions to improve the income of farmers in the future."
 
For the Regional Secretary, "this can only be achieved with an increase in the price of milk or with the reduction of operating costs."
 
João Ponte said the future of the dairy sector on Faial and Pico "involves the maintenance and, if possible, the increase in the quantity of milk delivered to factories, either at CALF or at Leite Montanha. This is important to the profitability of the investments in modernisation that are already made or underway, such as the case of Leite Montanha."
 
"This is a challenge for the Government, for the industry and for Faial and Pico producers. We must have more competitive industries and invest in the promotion of their products, so that producers may boost their income," stressed the government official.
 
With the aim of demonstrating the quality of the Azorean dairy products, the Regional Secretary highlighted the results of the Azorean cheese in recent Cheese Contest 2016.
 
In the "Flemish style cheese" and "Cow milk cheese" (regular ageing) categories, the winner was the Ilha Azul cheese produced by CALF - Faial Agricultural and Dairy Cooperative.
 
In the "Cow Milk cheese" (prolonged ageing) category, the winner was the Morião cheese poduced by Quinta dos Açores while the Capelinhos cheese, produced by CALF, received an honourable mention.
 
In the "São Jorge style cheese" category, the winner was Lourais cheese, produced by Lourais Dairy Cooperative. In turn, the Beira cheese, produced by Uniqueijo, and Topo cheese, produced  by Finisterra, were awarded honourable mentions.
 
In the "Spreadable Cheese" category, Valformoso - Herbs and Garlic Cheese, produced by INSULAC, received an honourable mention.