Organic Iberian ham

Buying organic Ibérico ham?
It may sound redundant, since a free-range Ibérico pig already seems organic by nature.

Anyone thinking about organic Ibérico ham and who knows a bit about the Dehesa ecosystem will assume that the model for organic farming lies in the Dehesas of Extremadura, Salamanca, or Andalusia.

Just as there is a regulation for Ibérico ham, the breeding of organic Ibérico pigs must meet a number of requirements.

Broadly speaking, an organic Dehesa must certify that it has not used pesticides or similar products in the past two years, in accordance with the relevant EU directive. These Dehesas must be clearly delimited and independent from the "traditional" Dehesa.

To qualify an Ibérico pig as organic, it must follow the protocol of organic livestock farming, including ecological treatments and feed.

Organic feeding during the Montanera in an organic Dehesa is, of course, guaranteed. If an organic Ibérico pig receives supplementary feeding with cereals and legumes, these must also be organically certified.

In the curing process of organic Ibérico ham, no nitrites or nitrates may be used. The recipe for organic Ibérico ham is simple: just sea salt and time.