El Salvador, a country known for its surf waves and growing tech ambitions, is now making strides in strengthening its agricultural sector with the launch of Lácteos de El Salvador (Dairy Products of El Salvador).
This new national brand, created by the government in partnership with local producers, aims to redefine how Salvadoran dairy reaches consumers—with quality, fairness, and sustainability at its core.
To provide context: In El Salvador, there are multiple dairy brands available in various locations. It’s even common to find unbranded dairy products sold in local markets or small brands only known in certain stores.
This is typical—dairy products don’t always carry a brand name or may come from very small producers. However, this new brand aims to give local farmers access to a recognized national brand.
This new brand is exclusively for dairy producers who choose to adopt it and comply with the standards established by the Government of El Salvador to use the ‘Lácteos de El Salvador’ brand.
🥛 What’s the Goal?
- Empower Small Farmers: The brand allows small and medium-scale dairy producers to sell under a unified label, provided they meet strict quality standards (like Grade “A” milk certification).
- Cut Out Middlemen: Similar to Agromercados—El Salvador’s popular farmers’ markets that connect producers directly to buyers—this initiative reduces unnecessary intermediaries, ensuring fairer prices for farmers and affordable products for consumers.
- Boost National Production: By unifying efforts, the government hopes to strengthen the dairy supply chain, from farm to supermarket shelf.
🛒 Spotlight on Super Selectos
During a recent trip to Super Selectos (El Salvador’s largest supermarket chain), I spotted the brand’s products already on shelves! From fresh milk to artisanal cheeses, the packaging proudly displays the Lácteos de El Salvador logo—a mark of local quality.
Although personally, I believe all the cheese and dairy products sold at Super Selectos are of good quality.
🌱 Part of a Bigger Vision
This initiative aligns with El Salvador’s broader strategy to increase food sovereignty and support local industries. Earlier efforts like the Innovation and Tech Manufacturing Law (2023) focused on tech growth, while Lácteos de El Salvador highlights the government’s commitment to agriculture—a sector vital to rural economies.
Clarifying that the creation of this dairy brand is not the only initiative the government has undertaken to boost and improve national food production.
Key Benefits So Far:
- Farmers gain access to nutritional plans and genetic improvement programs to boost milk yields.
- Factories must purchase raw materials at competitive prices, ensuring sustainability for producers.
- Consumers enjoy fresh, traceable products with guaranteed safety standards.
🧀 Why This Matters Beyond Borders?
While small in scale, El Salvador’s model offers lessons on bridging urban and rural economies and fostering public-private collaboration. It’s a reminder that supporting local producers isn’t just about economics—it’s about preserving traditions and building resilient communities.
P.S. El Salvador produced over 408 million liters of milk in 2022—now, that’s a lot of cheese! 🧀🚀
Posted: March 2, 2025.