Cerrito Blue Cheese, produced at the Cerrito Self-Sustainable Agricultural High School in Benjamín Aceval, earned the Gold Medal at the international “New World Cheese Gathering, Chile 2025,” positioning the Cerrito Self-Sustainable Agricultural High School of Fundación Paraguaya as a regional leader in dairy production and innovative education. Under the guidance of master cheesemaker Ricardo Negrete, students learn the art of crafting Iberian-style gourmet cheeses through the hands-on methodology “Learning by doing, selling, and earning.”
Cerrito Blue shone brightly by winning Gold in the Blue Cheese category at the New World Cheese international competition in Chile 2025, which brings together the best producers from Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay. This historic achievement places Paraguay on the global map of cheesemaking excellence and reaffirms the impact of Fundación Paraguaya’s educational model.
The success didn’t stop there. Cerrito’s Iberian gourmet cheeses also won five Bronze Medals in the following categories: Cheeses with added or smoked ingredients, Mixed milk cheeses, Semi-hard pressed cow’s milk cheeses, Hard pressed cow’s milk cheeses, and Fresh and soft goat’s milk cheeses. Altogether, the products made at the Cerrito Cheese Factory brought home six international awards, strengthening its reputation as one of the most outstanding dairy ventures in the Southern Cone.
Behind this success is the dedication of master cheesemaker Ricardo Negrete, who blends traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, training new generations of rural youth through real, hands-on experience. At the Cerrito Self-Sustainable Agricultural High School, students produce, manage, and market high-quality cheeses while developing leadership, management, and entrepreneurial skills.
This educational approach, based on the award-winning methodology “Learning by doing, selling, and earning,” reflects Fundación Paraguaya’s vision of promoting a model of social capitalism without poverty, where every young person gains the tools to transform their own life and community.
The recognition earned in Chile is more than a prize — it is the result of the collective effort of students, teachers, and collaborators who prove that practical education combined with production excellence can create real impact. From Cerrito, in the heart of the Paraguayan Chaco, these young rural entrepreneurs demonstrate that knowledge, work, and passion can turn a dream into a source of national pride.