Working organically has always been a natural decision for the farm: we didn't want to add pesticides to our soil. For many years, this choice was reflected primarily in practice, in the way we cared for our olive grove and respected the balance of the ecosystem. A few years ago, we decided to move forward with certification so that an independent entity, with external criteria and inspections, could confirm this way of working.

In the field, we seek to close cycles and work with what the land offers us. A simple example: we use the manure from our Churra Badana sheep as fertilizer — an organic material that nourishes the soil and maintains the fertility of the olive grove.

What have we certified?

Throughout this process, we certified most of the trees on the property, including, for example, our marmalade pear trees. In other words, the certification goes beyond the olive grove: it encompasses our agricultural work as a whole.

Organic farming vs. organic processing (they are not the same certification)

There's an important point that isn't always obvious: producing organically and processing a product as organic are not exactly the same thing. In short:

• Organic agriculture refers to the way raw materials are produced (what happens in the field).

• Biological transformation refers to the way a product is prepared, transformed, and placed on the market as "organic," following its own set of rules (specific procedures, records, traceability, and controls).

These are different certifications, which helps explain why not all products can (or should) be presented as organic.

Why certification is important (for customers)

Certification is important for a very simple reason: it transforms an intention into a verifiable guarantee.
For the consumer, it offers three essential elements:

• Transparency: there is an external and independent reference.

• Traceability: it is possible to associate the product with its exact origin and batch number.

• Consistency: "organic" doesn't depend on a promise, but on a system.

What changes in the day-to-day life at Quinta Mourisca?

Certification translates into very concrete routines. It's not just about how we produce, but also how we prove that we produce in that way.
Here are some examples of what the certification requires:

• Planning and recording agricultural practices.

• Separation and identification of batches.

• Document control for suppliers and materials.

• Regular checks and preparation for audits.

Why certification has costs (and why we only apply it to certain products)

Organic certification involves direct and indirect costs, and both are significant.

• Direct costs: audits, analyses, and certification fees.

• Costs of time and method: registration, documentation, traceability, and preparation for inspections.

• Production costs: working without synthetic pesticides means more time in the field, more prevention, and more manual labor.

In biological processing, the demands and controls add yet another layer of complexity. Therefore, although we certify most of our agricultural production, the only product we process and sell with organic certification is our olive oil.

For other products, such as vinegars, we work in small batches, and in these cases, the proportional cost of certification and the control system may exceed the scale.

We prefer to be transparent: maintaining high standards both on the farm and in the kitchen, and applying certification where it makes sense, without promising more than we can guarantee.

Why did we choose this path?

Our project was born from the desire to value our region and highlight the best that Trás-os-Montes has to offer: products with provenance, care, and identity. Organic certification helps us protect all of this and share a simple and verifiable guarantee with our supporters: what reaches your table was made with clear rules and responsibility.

If you would like to know more about the certification process or about a specific product, please contact us. We will be happy to explain how we work, without shortcuts.