La Yema Dorada: 70 years of tradition, evolution, and quality

From its first poultry house and 2,000 chicks to seven decades of history: a family story that has evolved alongside Costa Rica’s poultry industry.

On May 1, 1956, brothers José, Víctor, and Javier Mesalles Cebriá began a venture that, seven decades later, remains part of Costa Rica’s poultry industry: La Yema Dorada.

The story began on a one-hectare property, where José used the carpentry skills inherited from his father to build the first poultry house. Soon afterward, the first 2,000 day-old chicks arrived from the United States, at a time when Costa Rica’s poultry industry was still in its early stages and no local hatcheries existed.

Those early years were marked by extraordinary dedication. José recalled sleeping beside the first chicks to make sure that the incandescent light bulbs used to keep them warm provided sufficient heat.

From those humble beginnings, La Yema Dorada embarked on a continuous process of transformation. Its first rearing and production farms were located in Pavas, with operations later expanding to Santa Ana. In the early 1970s, the company introduced what was then modern cage-production technology, which was subsequently incorporated into new farms in Ciruelas de Alajuela and Turrúcares.

Seventy years later, the company has built a legacy defined by quality, adaptability, and a close connection with Costa Rican consumers. Generations of employees and the continuous strengthening of its production and commercial processes have made its evolution possible.

Today, under the leadership of the second generation, with Luis Mesalles Jorba as General Manager, La Yema Dorada continues to address the evolving challenges of the industry, advancing in innovation, production efficiency, supply management, and international standards while preserving the values of hard work, commitment, and tradition on which the company was founded.

Seventy years later, that first farm represents the beginning of a story that continues to evolve and build its future.

Contact: mbarboza@grupocomeca.com