Cooperativa Arrozeira Palmares turns 60 years old with expectations of new markets

Located on a peninsula between Laguna dos Patos and the sea, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Cooperativa Arrozeira Palmares completes, on December 23, 60 years of history and activity in the Brazilian rice market. Managed by its own members, over these six decades, Arrozeira Palmares has become a reference in management, product quality, commercialization of production and sustainability.

At the headquarters of the Cooperative, in Palmares do Sul, a municipality with 11 thousand inhabitants 90 kilometers from Porto Alegre, 1,5 million bales per year (45 million kilos) are processed, a volume that would be enough to supply the entire population of cities like Recife (PE), or Porto Alegre (RS), for an entire year. There are more than 1.500 sales points spread across the country and a portfolio with seven types of rice, sold mainly in the South and Southeast regions.

With 169 members distributed in municipalities such as Capivari do Sul, Cidreira, Mostardas, Osório, Palmares do Sul, Santo Antônio da Patrulha, Tavares and Viamão, the objective of Cooperativa Palmares for 2021 is to achieve revenues exceeding R$ 150 million recorded in the year past. "Our rice is on the shelves of the main supermarket chains throughout Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, we have a consolidated market in the South of Rio de Janeiro, where we are the leading brand, with 26% of sales", states the cooperative's CEO, José Mathias Bins Martins.

The only one with D.O.

The only rice in Brazil accredited to use the Denomination of Origin (D.O.) seal on the packaging is Palmares Gold rice – special Gourmet, produced by Cooperativa Arrozeira Palmares. The recognition was obtained in 2010, by the Association of Rice Producers of the North Coast of Gaúcho (Aproarroz), after proof, with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), that the region's climatic conditions are decisive in obtaining rice with unique features that cannot be found anywhere else.

"This peninsula between the sea and the lagoon has the same climate as the beach. A historical survey showed that our temperatures are around 25 degrees. In addition to this thermal balance, the influence of winds, light and humidity are important in the formation of the rice grain", highlights Martins, a rice producer who participated in the working group at the time, and is currently director-president of Cooperativa Palmares.

Among the characteristics of rice, the high yield of whole grains stands out, with a more glassy grain. For the end consumer, it is a loose rice, it gives more pot yield, in addition to being a very tasty rice.

Sustainability in rice crops

Rio Grande do Sul's rice farming is among the most demanding on the planet in terms of care, technical level and environmental legislation. For experts, they are the guarantee that they are sustainable and that Gaucho rice is fully capable of serving the international market. The obligations begin with the crops, with extreme care with water, soil management so that it remains fertile and a set of good practices – which continue throughout the production chain.

At Cooperativa Palmares, all waste is reused or disposed of appropriately. The main residue from processing, the husk is used as fuel for furnaces when drying rice. Thanks to the use of new technologies and investments of more than R$5 million in 2021, control processes have been reducing the amount of particulate material (dust), arising from the process of receiving, drying, storing, moving and processing grains .

The supervisory director of Cooperativa Palmares, Carlo Antonio Schifino, assures that environmental concerns were born together with the Cooperative and continue with younger generations, who are investing in renewable energy, such as wind and photovoltaic. "We have an abundance of wind and sun in the region, it's a management approach with awareness. Lower gas emissions, decarbonization, these green seals are topics that are much discussed in the region by new producers. Everything takes time, but evolution is imminent. Opened There is a range of options and all of this brings, in addition to sustainability, economy to the producer", he states.

The watchword at Cooperativa Palmares, currently, is to strengthen leadership in markets already conquered, expand the area of ​​operations and open new fronts of activity. "The Cooperative is a lady that needs to remain young and modern, without forgetting its main task, which is to receive the rice well from its 169 members, classify it correctly, store the product in optimal conditions and then obtain the best commercialization possible", summarizes CEO Martins.

The leader also notes that there is already a movement of transformation throughout the region. "We are seeing that the terroir itself also favors the planting of soybeans and the raising of animals, such as sheep, cattle and horses, our mild climatic condition is very favorable for animal welfare. In addition, the cultivation of products such as corn , wheat and oats, which are beginning to be tested, should cause a major transformation throughout the region and the Cooperative must be attentive to the producer's movement".