We want our customers to have the peace of mind that all the fresh vegetables they purchase from Mercato have been selected from farms that are committed to using no pesticides. Some of these farms are certified organic, others are not certified, but work with great commitment to sustainability and environmental regeneration. In the case of both certified and non-certified farms, we have visited the projects, talked to their owners, reviewed the techniques and production methods, to verify that within the supply available in the country, we are bringing to your home the best option from the point of view of clean and sustainable production.

We are committed to the shift towards a more sustainable food system and believe that in the area of processed foods, the path to change should be directed towards supporting food product proposals that meet most of the following characteristics:

Use of organic or pesticide- and GMO-free raw materials (even if not 100% of the ingredients).
Minimal processing to the original raw material
Minimal use of unnecessary packaging, and where required, preferably reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Local, artisanal processes that support local linkages
Outstanding quality and unique qualities of the final product

We have processed products that are not certified organic but are extraordinary in their qualities and are superior to their commercial alternative. Some examples are artisanal bread, which uses sourdough instead of added yeast and industrial additives. Naturally fermented beverages such as kombucha, kefir or probiotic infusions are another example, in this case healthy alternatives to commercial sodas with mostly pesticide-free ingredients. The artisanal dairy products we choose are from pastured cattle free of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones. Artisanal sauces and jams use fresh, organic or pesticide-free ingredients, processes free of harmful additives such as high fructose corn syrup that is common in most industrialized foods, preservatives and chemical flavorings. In each category, we have tested the work of local artisans, and have chosen the healthiest, best quality and most authentic alternatives to the commercially available mass product.

Our first priority is always certified organic products. However, there are still products that are not available with certification. In these cases, we choose non-certified products, but from farms that we can verify that they use regenerative and pesticide-free techniques. In some cases these are farms that are in official transition processes, and in other cases, due to the size of the farm, the producer does not yet justify the cost of organic certification.

Part of our work is to promote the generation of more certified farms and producers, with the intention that more and more farms and producers are regenerating the environment and producing food that improves consumer health and directly benefits rural economies.

Organic product is that produced on a farm with an official and valid organic certification, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, which guarantees the use of methods and systems compatible with the protection and ecological improvement, does not use inputs or chemical synthesis products harmful to the environment or human health.

The pesticide-free product uses principles and techniques similar to organic agriculture. There are farms committed to the non-use of pesticides that are not certified. Also, recently there are some agencies offering pesticide-free certificates, with a formal standard but less stringent requirements for certification compared to the organic standard. The pesticide-free farm products we offer come from farms managed by farmers who are committed and transparent in demonstrating that their methods and systems are compatible with ecological protection and improvement, and that they do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

The regenerative agriculture product also does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, but offers a much more holistic approach to agriculture. It goes beyond sustainability, it seeks soil regeneration, with the purpose of using agricultural activity as a way to reverse the world’s situation in the face of climate change. In regenerative agriculture, it is not enough to cause less impact on the environment or health, but its purpose is to constantly improve the biodiversity of flora and fauna, the health and fertility of agricultural land, improve the water cycle, increase the resilience of systems to global warming, promote carbon capture, waste recycling, and improve the productivity of agricultural activities. This type of agriculture is the ideal we are pursuing, and much of our work consists of encouraging the growth of this new approach to farming.

There are products that are still not available in organic or pesticide-free production formats. In such cases, we would rather not sell a product than offer a conventional version with pesticides.

For this reason also, we do not have all the fruits all year round, as we sell the fruits that are in season according to their natural cycles, without having been chemically forced. It also happens that at certain times of the year, due to the influence of rainfall or temperature, we have drops in some weather-sensitive products.

We bet on the peace of mind of knowing that a product offered by Mercato, implies a commitment in the search for the best available version, and that first of all, means that it comes from a responsible production area where no pesticides are used and the health of the consumer is sought, the regeneration of the soil and the growth of farmers committed to sustainability. .