Santa Rita Bio Caseificio Sociale

The Caseificio Sociale Santa Rita was founded in 1964 by 33 founding members, now have 5 members, all companies are family run, with more than 500 hectares and more than 400 heads raised.

In 1996, members decided to put into practice the techniques of 'Agriculture and Livestock Husbandry.They are in fact no GMOs all feed and fodder; feed formulations in a small factory (elusively dedicated to organic) only 5 km away from our Dairy Farm, mind fodder as well as the 'barley and field beans are grown and produced directly by the companies forming part of the cooperative, they do of their own co-operative and the sharing of 'their commitment to a strong point.

Milk, milked twice a day, is brought to the Dairy directly from producers, as companies only few kilometers away from it, this feature allows you to apply any long transfers that would jeopardize the quality of the raw material, which reaching destination unaltered and in the best conditions allows to obtain a product with excellent characteristics.

The milk from the evening milking is left to rest overnight in large tubs, letting the cream come to the surface with the 'natural outcrop and not by centrifugation.

This semi-skimmed milk is mixed with the whole of the morning milking, thus obtaining the right ratio of fat.

Thus began, on a daily basis, a millennial and craftsmanship process which allows to get, after firing occurred in the copper boilers, in which the milk is mixed with rennet of natural original, to form (requires 16 liters of milk to produce a kg of cheese).

It will then mail them to salting for 18 days, and then taken care of, turn, clean and aged for 24 months.The Caseificio Sociale Santa Rita (renovated in green building), located in the 'Modena Apennines at about 800 meters above sea level, daily produces 8 Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain Organic all marked and identified with serial number 2895, with a production annual of 4000 forms.

The Dairy has decided to adopt the method of short chain, seasoning and selling directly its Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain (synonymous with quality, but also of higher costs) from organic farming.The regular engagement of agronomists, veterinarians and nutritionists in the companies, the constant control of the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and 'ICEA institute, ethical and environmental certification institute (body chosen for organic production) give the end user the maximum guarantees on 'hygiene, the uniqueness and quality of our Parmigiano Reggiano.

This care in the work allows for a unique cheese in the world for its history, culture, tradition and taste.

The Dairy Santa Rita is also Educational Farm, open to school visits, clients and groups to discover the secrets of the production cycle of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Equipped classroom equipped teaching and a store, "The Court of the King", which was recently opened and built entirely in green building, in which you can buy in addition to Parmigiano from 12 to 100 months, a wide range of products all Certificates from organic farming.

From 1 January 2009 it has also started producing 1 form per day of Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain by Bianca Organic Agriculture Modenese, native breed endangered become recently Slow Food.

The Caseificio Sociale Santa Rita has also won many awards:

• Boxcutter d 'Oro (1998)
• Award ERA (Emilia Romagna Environment) (1999)
• International Organic Cheese prize: Biocaseus (1999)
• Bronze Medal II of the Mountain Cheese Olympics (2003)
• Medal d 'Oro III Mountain Cheese Olympics (2004)
• Medal d 'gold and silver DLG Competition (2007)
• Medal d 'Silver and Bronze IV Mountain Cheese Olympics (2007)
• Bronze Medal at the International Cheese Organic Award: Biocaseus (2008).
• DLG Gold Medal Competition - Germany - February 2009 -. 2nd Prize competition "The Bio Forms" -
• Province of Medio Campidano - November 2009. 5th in the category Extra Duri on 70 cheese samples
• 3rd in the Parmigiano Reggiano category of 40 samples to 6th Olympics Montagnana Cheese
• Saignelehier (CH) 22 to 25 October 2009. DLG Gold Medal Competition - Germany - February 2010