Maria Valéria and Maria Rogéria Pereira

Fazenda Irmãs Pereira, located in the renowned coffee-growing region of Carmo de Minas, Minas Gerais, represents a legacy of family-led agricultural excellence. The estate was originally established in the early 1970s as Fazenda Serrado by Antônio Andrade Pereira Filho and Maria da Conceição Costa Pereira. Upon inheriting the land, their daughters, Maria Valéria and Maria Rogéria, assumed management of the property and renamed it Irmãs Pereira, which translates to 'Pereira Sisters,' to reflect their shared stewardship and commitment to the family business.

The farm spans approximately 250 hectares, with roughly 120 hectares currently dedicated to coffee cultivation. The topography of the estate is notably challenging, characterized by steep, mountainous terrain that precludes the use of mechanized harvesting common in other parts of Brazil. Consequently, the sisters maintain a labor-intensive model, relying on hand-picking to ensure the quality of the cherries. To support their workforce, the farm provides housing and healthcare through a dedicated Family Health Program, underscoring a commitment to social responsibility alongside agricultural output.

Innovation is a cornerstone of the sisters' management philosophy. The farm serves as a vital processing hub not only for their own harvests but also for several other high-profile estates under the Carmo banner, including Fazenda IP, Santuario Sul, and Ama Estate. This central processing facility allows for rigorous quality control and the application of advanced post-harvest techniques, which are essential for maintaining the high sensory standards required for the specialty coffee market.

The family's influence extends deep into the specialty coffee supply chain through their connection to CarmoCoffees, an influential exporter. Luiz Paulo Dias Pereira Filho, the son of Maria Rogéria, is a co-founder of CarmoCoffees, a company that has been instrumental in connecting the region's producers to international roasters. This vertical integration ensures that the coffee produced at Irmãs Pereira—often featuring varieties like Yellow Bourbon—reaches global markets with a clear narrative of origin and quality.

For the roaster and the consumer, the name Irmãs Pereira has become synonymous with the distinct profile of Carmo de Minas coffee, often noted for notes of milk chocolate, apricot, and pecan. The sisters have successfully navigated the transition from a traditional family farm to a modern, innovation-driven enterprise. Their ability to maintain the farm's unity while adapting to the evolving demands of the specialty industry has made them a model for multi-generational coffee production.

Today, the farm stands as a testament to the resilience of the Pereira family. By refusing to divide the land and instead choosing to manage it collectively, Maria Valéria and Maria Rogéria have preserved the integrity of their parents' original vision while scaling their operations to meet modern standards. Their ongoing work continues to shape the reputation of the Carmo de Minas region as a premier source for high-altitude, meticulously processed Brazilian specialty coffee.