There has been a real frenzy in Spain around La Fageda yogurts. After a scientific journal published the results of a study on the longevity secrets of María Branyas Morera, demand for the cooperative’s products has soared. The woman, who passed away in August 2024 at the age of 117, had been recognized as the world’s oldest living person a year earlier.
Founded in 1982, La Fageda has always stood out for its unique approach: focusing not only on the quality of its dairy products, but also on the social integration of people with disabilities. However, they did not expect such a rush of customers. Following the publication of the scientific report, which thoroughly examined María’s gut microbiome, it was discovered that her indicators matched those of much younger people. Scientists also noted that the supercentenarian regularly ate yogurts of this particular brand.
Interest in the product was further fueled by an old social media post published by María’s family back in 2022. It mentioned that she preferred La Fageda yogurts. In recent weeks, the cooperative has received orders not only from Spain, but also from the UK and the US. This is due to the fact that specialists from these countries participated in the research.
The management of La Fageda emphasizes that their goal is not business expansion, but supporting their employees, many of whom face significant challenges in life. All proceeds are reinvested into the development of the project, not for profit. The cooperative operates as a non-profit, helping people with disabilities and those in difficult situations find employment and feel valued.
Today, around 650 people work at La Fageda, most of whom belong to socially vulnerable groups. Since its founding by psychologist Cristóbal Colón, the project has remained true to its principles: caring for people is more important than financial performance. The surge in interest in their yogurts gave the cooperative an opportunity to share its mission and draw attention to the challenges of social integration.
