Fazenda Limoeiro built Goldy’s award-winning Jersey dairy business

Lawyer Aldo Raia acquired Fazenda Limoeiro in 1971, when the property was devoted to coffee. Seven years later, a severe frost in São Paulo destroyed the crop and the family removed 150,000 coffee trees. It then imported the farm’s first Jersey cows and a purebred bull from Jersey, an island in the English Channel and the breed’s historical home.

The cattle became the foundation of a vertically integrated business. Goldy Alimentos Premium, which was established in 2001 and marks 25 years of operations in 2026, processes milk from Fazenda Limoeiro into ricotta, fresh Minas cheese, dulce de leche and fondant. The products are sold under the “Jersey de Itu” line.

William Labaki, who runs the family business, identifies the milk as the main distinction of the products. Jersey milk contains high levels of solids, including fat, protein and minerals, compared with milk from other dairy breeds. Goldy says this composition gives its products a creamy texture and a pronounced but mild dairy flavour.

The company’s products received Super Gold, Gold and Silver medals at the World Cheese Brazil events held in 2024 and 2026. The family’s “Jerseyland” registered herd has been maintained for 48 years and uses genetic material from Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Jersey. The farm still holds frozen semen from bulls originating on the island.

Feed production is based mainly on maize silage and hay. Ten years ago, Fazenda Limoeiro also planted 18,000 native Atlantic Forest seedlings through the Nascentes Project, an initiative of the government of São Paulo state. Labaki said the planting had a positive effect on wildlife and vegetation on the farm and in surrounding areas.

Labaki described the company’s development since 2001 as a long process of adding value to Jersey milk. He said genetic improvement must be combined with effective herd management, and identified balancing production costs with higher agricultural and livestock productivity as a challenge for producers. He also cited broader product diversification and stronger marketing as priorities for the business.