It is estimated that São Jorge Cheese had its origins in the center of Europe, in Flanders, with its arrival on Van der Haegen Island (originating in Maastricht) and its compatriots. Over time, manufacturing sites multiplied and, during the 20s of the 20th century, there were thirty-seven industrial factories on the Island, and forty-nine cheese dairies/shepherds' houses manufacturing domestic. In 1927, the Beira Dairy Cooperative was founded, considered the oldest agricultural cooperative in the country. The development of cooperativism was fundamental in the defense of this industry.
Throughout the 20th century, the number of manufacturing sites was progressively reduced, taking into account the modernization and specialization of this sector. In this way, production activity was concentrated in nine cooperatives: Rosais, Beira, Santo Amaro, Santo António, Norte Grande, Manadas, Norte Pequeno, Lourais and Topo. In 1986, the Demarcated Cheese Region of São Jorge was created and the registration of Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) assigned to the brand "Queijo São Jorge" was regulated. This year, the Union of Dairy Agricultural Cooperatives of São Jorge, UCRL – UNIQUEIJO, was created. From 2006, and until the present, the number of cooperatives in São Jorge was reduced to three: Uniqueijo in Beira, Lourais in Ribeira Seca, and Finisterra in Topo.
