Giuseppe and Laura Zoff raise cattle in Borgnano, in the Collio hills, within one of the most beautiful and complex landscapes of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Fattoria Zoff is a family-run farm that produces both milk and meat—an integrated supply chain where every stage is managed with the same attention and care. The Collio is a region dedicated to viticulture, but beneath the vineyards lie hills, meadows, and woods. The animals graze freely, know the land, and live outdoors for as much of the year as the climate permits.
Giuseppe Zoff has farming in his DNA, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were sharecroppers. However, he had to take a winding path to find the right way again. He began with conventional methods that forced him to enter the stable with IV drips—and it was then he realized he was betraying his dream and what he had seen his grandfather do. Today, he raises Pezzata Rossa cows organically and circularly, fed only on hay and grass from pristine pastures. “The truth is that this is a beautiful job,” he says.
The turning point came thanks to the right people appearing at the right time—Giuseppe says there is an attraction between those who think alike. One of these people was the veterinarian Francesca Pisseri, an expert in agroecology and sustainable farming, who taught him how to boost the animals’ immune systems with homeopathy. That meeting opened his eyes and helped him transform the farm into the organic and natural reality he had dreamed of.
What he preserves is the ability to listen to the land and the animals—an ancient expertise that is at risk of being lost today. By having only a few head of cattle, he can know the character of each cow and prevent problems before resorting to pharmaceuticals. He has not invented anything: he replicates the tradition that has made Italian products a world heritage, that genuine bond with nature that he defends every day from extinction.
Fattoria Zoff’s customers have understood the method: they know that if a product is available, they buy it; otherwise, they wait. Eating strawberries in December or greenhouse tomatoes means consuming food with zero nutritional value, says Giuseppe. Food must be our medicine, or medicine will be our food. Choosing Fattoria Zoff means keeping a territory alive—a value that goes far beyond the supermarket.
