We're Escorted In
Here we are, about to enter into one of the largest sugar mills in Brazil. Each person was given a hard hat. Our guide gave us a brief history of the family owned plant which was pretty interesting.
1904: Jose Zillo marries Dona Angelina Lorenzetti, Italian immigrants to Brazil. They settle in Lencois Paulista, the city we were in.
1939: Zillo, his brothers and nephews start a small distillery that manufactured cane liqueur, "agua ardente" (fire water).
1945: Company transformed into the Sao Jose mill.
1946: Sao Jose harvests its first crop and the group begins construction on the Barra Grande mill, also started as a distillery.
1947: Barra Grande begins operations as a mill.
1948: Sao Jose produces refined sugar under the trade name AZIL.
1952: Both mills begin alcohol production.
1970: New mill inaugurated and sugar trade name changed to Ducula.
1981: Company purchases a third mill, Quata.
1995: Production begun for animal feed named Nutricell, and Goldcell food product for human consumption, both ISO 9002.
1996: Sugar produced is certified ISO 9002.
Directly behind us I hear the rumble of trucks. As I turn around, I am face to face with a huge sugar cane caravan!