Ponta Delgada, Azores, June 1, 2026 (Lusa) - The government of Portugal's Azores region and the Azores Agricultural Federation marked World Milk Day on Monday, highlighting the strategic importance of milk production for the regional economy, the promotion of Azorean milk, and the work of professionals in the sector.
As part of the celebrations for World Milk Day and World Children’s Day, marked today, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Institute of Food and Agricultural Markets (IAMA), is promoting an educational initiative aimed at schools in the region, reinforcing the importance of milk in a balanced, healthy diet whilst simultaneously promoting the excellence of milk produced in the Azores.
The initiative aims to increase young people’s knowledge of the origin of milk, its journey from production to consumption, its nutritional benefits and the importance of this food during school age, explains the Azorean government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) in a press release.
In the same statement, the regional government of the Azores emphasises that World Milk Day is “a date that invites us to recognise the importance of a sector that is fundamental to the economy, social cohesion and the identity of the Azores”.
“This international event also provides an opportunity to acknowledge the daily work of Azorean producers, cooperatives and all professionals linked to the agri-food sector, who have helped establish Azores milk as a high-quality product, recognised both within and outside the region,” it highlights.
The regionalgovernment also emphasises that the Azores are now established as “an unmissable benchmark, at both national and European level, in milk production, distinguished by the excellence and authenticity of its milk”.
"Benefiting from unique natural conditions, green pastures all year round and a sustainable production model deeply connected to nature", the archipelago produces "high-quality milk, recognised for its freshness, nutritional richness and distinctive characteristics that elevate and bring prestige to the Azorean agri-food sector!, it further notes.
The regional government commends and congratulates the Azores Agricultural Federation, "as the leading voice and principal representative of milk producers" in the archipelago, for the "crucial role it has played in the defence, promotion and affirmation" of the Azorean dairy sector, through its "initiatives, demands and constant dedication" to an activity that accounts for around 30% of all national milk production.
Quoted in the statement, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, emphasises that “promoting Azorean milk means recognising the dedication, daily effort and resilience of farmers” and the “absolutely decisive role that the dairy sector plays in the economic, social and territorial development of the Azores, being one of the fundamental pillars of the region’s identity and sustainability”.
The minister also stressed the importance of continuing to bring new generations closer to the reality of regional agriculture, promoting healthy eating habits and raising awareness of high-quality regional products, “such as Azorean milk”.
For its part, the Azores Agricultural Federation took the opportunity to pay tribute to Azorean milk producers and highlight their “enormous resilience, professionalism and dedication” in the face of the sector’s “constant challenges”, ranging from “rising production costs to market demands”.
The Agricultural Federation, chaired by Jorge Rita, reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to champion a “strong, sustainable and valued” dairy sector, capable of ensuring conditions so that “future generations can continue to make a living from agriculture and contribute to the development of rural communities”.
APE // AYLS
Lusa
