The Legislative Assembly of Paraná (ALEP) celebrated, last week, the official recognition obtained by colonial cheese from Southwest Paraná.
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From now on, typical cheeses from the region will be able to count on the Geographical Indication (GI) registration, granted by the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI).
This will make it possible to strengthen the “colonial cheese from Southwest Paraná” brand and obtain greater market value for the product.
In a speech at the Assembly, state deputy Wilmar Reichembach (PSD) celebrated the achievement and highlighted the quality of the delicacy.
“It is a unique product, comparable to the famous cheeses of Minas Gerais,” he said. “It all starts in a small family-run industry, and the Southwest Producers Association has done an excellent job, which deserves our recognition.”
The process of obtaining the IG for the product from the Southwest had the support of the Government of Paraná, Sebrae/PR, the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR) and Cresol, as well as city halls and producers in the region.
Southwest Paraná currently has around 60 formal cheese factories and another hundred initiatives with the potential to become formal. The region is part of the Paraná Cheese Route, created to promote rural tourism and enable new businesses.
Colonial cheese from Southwest Paraná
The Geographical Indication approved for colonial cheese from Southwest Paraná covers 42 municipalities in the region and establishes characteristics so that the product is recognized as such.
According to the 2017 Agricultural Census, around 25% of cheesemakers in the state of Paraná are concentrated in the Southwest.
Since 2024, the colonial cheese produced in the region has been registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Paraná, through State Law No. 21.966.
(With information from Sebrae and the Legislative Assembly)
