Following the rhythm of the singer Alexandre Leão, the first edition of the Bahia Artisanal Cheese Festival begins this Thursday (19). The event runs until Saturday (21), at the Mercado do Rio Vermelho, Ceasinha, in Salvador. During this period, more than 60 producers present a wide range of traditional and typical cheeses, made with unique recipes that reflect the diversity of the Bahian biome.
“The Bahian cheese-making groups have been producing and selling in the local market for a long time. And they need to organize themselves, as a category that produces good cheeses, both traditional and their own. So, coming here means making Bahian society aware of what we have”, explained the Secretary of Rural Development, Osni Cardoso, recalling that the agro-industry is responsible for creating jobs and income in the interior of Bahia.
“When we brought this group here, as a result of public policies, with the municipal inspection service, with the donation of equipment, giving them the opportunity to be in a space like this, we realized that it was the right decision to prioritize public funds for family farming”, added the director-president of the Regional Development and Action Company (CAR), Jeanndro Ribeiro.
The first edition of the Bahia Artisanal Cheese Festival kicks off in Salvador
The opening of the event was attended by the First Lady of Bahia, Tatiana Velloso. The initiative comes from the State Government, through the Secretariat of Rural Development (SDR) and CAR, with the support of the Secretariat of Economic Development (SDE) and Tourism (Setur-BA), and the Agricultural Defense Agency (Adab). On Friday, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Mercado do Rio Vermelho. Admission is free. “I think it’s very cool because it’s an incentive for people who produce to sell it. It’s a space that’s given to them, it’s very cool”, said tourist from Sergipe, Rita de Cássia Barros.
Also a fan is the secretary of the Velho Chico Public Consortium, Cristina Castro. “Anyone who wants to know Bahia, family farming, the taste of family farming, should come here. I am amazed by the number of quality products that have received awards, including internationally. It is a unique opportunity to know and appreciate Bahian cheeses”, says Cristina.
The varied program includes lectures, workshops, pairings and a space dedicated to Bahian wines and cachaças. In addition to Alexandre Leão, Márcia Short and Fragmentos do Samba will also perform. The festival promises to unite tradition, innovation and gastronomy in a celebration that values the quality and authenticity of cheese. One of the highlights is the Coração de Massapê, produced by João Campos, from Fazenda Licurizal, in Santanópolis. This cheese brought Bahia its first medal at the Cheese World Cup in Tours, France, in 2023.
The first edition of the Bahia Artisanal Cheese Festival kicks off in Salvador
“The medal facilitates communication with the consumer. It is a sign of quality. He knows that if we win a medal in France, it is because the product is good. He stops buying products from abroad to buy products from Bahia”, thinks João Campos. According to him, the festival is a great opportunity to give visibility to micro, small and family farms, and to show consumers that Bahian cheese is a must and deserves to be consumed.
Cheese production
Bahia has a tradition of cheese production that goes back almost 500 years. Its production began in the 16th century with colonizers, who brought the European tradition of making this dairy food to Bahia’s capital.
During the festival, anyone who visits the Rio Vermelho Market can reconnect with this historical richness, in addition to enjoying everything Bahian cheese has to offer. In addition to traditional cheeses such as coalho, requeijão and goat cheese, the state stands out for its innovation in typical cheeses, as many producers have created their own recipes, reflecting the diversity and richness of our biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest, the Agreste, the Caatinga and the Cerrado.
