摘要：This paper aims to evaluate milk mini-plants as policy proposals, targeting the generation of income and employment in local/regional bounds. Thus, it will be possible to improve the production efficiency of the home producers and the quality of the product to the consumer. Theoretical concept discussions among several related authors found in the literature in order to incorporate some key elements which might configure a proper analysis of the proposal. The data were obtained through standard interviews applied to producers from nine establishments found in the Rural Development Office (RDO) of Araraquara/SP, which is branch of milk basin of Ribeirão Preto, localized in the countryside of the state of São Paulo, and to producers from a milk mini-plant regarded as a model, placed in the RDO of Piracicaba/SP. The results show that this type of activity has been constantly quoted as an alternative to reduce the trading of milk and dairy products in an informal way, as well as to increase the profitability of home producer. So this study pointed the complications found by the producers to obtain credit, registry and legalization of this type of enterprising, products trading and technical assistance, which leads them to remain in business informality.
