Análise dos processos de produção do requeijão em Missão de Aricobé

Abstract

Milk production plays a significant role in the local economy, with western Bahia standing out as a key producing region, reinforcing the state’s position as a leader in the dairy sector in the Northeast. Given the limited number of dairy processing plants in Barreiras and its surrounding areas, many milk producers sell their products without any processing to ensure safety, distributing door-to-door or supplying small neighborhood stores. A few producers add value to the milk by processing it into sweets, cheeses, and requeijão, which allows for greater financial returns and extends shelf life—a crucial factor in preserving the milk’s nutrients until sale and consumption. However, this processing is often done empirically, lacking prior technical knowledge that could improve product quality, increase financial gains for producers, and ensure consumer safety. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the production processes of artisanal requeijão and profile requeijão producers in the Barreiras region to propose strategies that can strengthen all links in the local requeijão production chain.