Mallorca's organic scene
WHY DID YOU MOVE TO MALLORCA?
I always had wanderlust, even at the age of twelve I realized that Germany was not my country. The doors opened for me on Mallorca.
WHAT WAS MALLORCA LIKE WHEN YOU ARRIVED?
I came here 18 years ago, when I started a cooperation with an organic farmer who had been active for a long time but was ridiculed by most people: Biel Oliver. His finca Es Vinyol in Manacor still exists. He is now retired. Back then, people bought from him because it tasted better, not out of conviction. I baked spelt bread, the Mallorcans didn't know spelt back then.
TODAY THE ISLAND IS CONSIDERED A BIO-ISLAND.
People have changed their purchasing behavior very quickly, hopefully we will soon be as far as in Germany. Almost all supermarkets have organic products, many people now only buy organic. In the beginning, organic was only for people who liked to read, but now many people know how healthy and good organic products are, not only for the body but also for the earth. There are lectures and courses in many villages, many organized by the organic farmers' association, APAE¬MA,
There are now more than 600 certified organic farmers on Mallorca. This has become very widespread.
YOU WERE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY FOR ORGANIC FARMING IN THE BALEARIC ISLANDS FOR FOUR YEARS. WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED?
My time coincided with the beginning of the crisis in 2008 and a government that didn't want to know anything about organic. We hardly received any subsidies. The politicians really wanted to starve us out. Many employees worked for months without pay, which made a big impression on me. Nevertheless, we were able to promote the advantages of organic farming at trade fairs, with multilingual brochures and at lectures. Certification was really difficult back then, we had almost no people! Today, the association has grown considerably, also thanks to the green government.
HAVE YOU DETECTED FRAUD?
We keep hearing about cheating on the organic market.
No. During my time at the Consell Balear de la Producció Agrària Ecològica (CBPAE), the certification authority, I got to know almost all organic farmers. Most of them are idealists who work out of conviction. It's not that easy either: soil samples are taken regularly and the products are tested. If you cheat, your license is revoked and you have to pay a fine. Today, the risk is low because demand is high. It pays to be an organic farmer!
DOES THIS ALSO HAVE TO DO WITH THE INTERNATIONAL POPULATION STRUCTURE?
In any case. Dealing with other cultures is contagious. Many Germans live here. The large market in turn attracts companies that have many potential customers on Mallorca.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BAKERY?
The bakery was a good way for me to get to know people and to learn Spanish and Mallorcan. I made bread, sweet and savory pastries, and eventually also for hotels, restaurants and organic food stores. I also went to the market myself once a week. 95 percent of my customers were Mallorcan. The flour was self-ground, fresh and whole grain! The work was very strenuous, in the end I baked 154 loaves a day, without a mixer. In 2006, the bakery became too small and I could no longer take orders. That was the point: either expand or sell. I sold, because I wanted to return to my original profession. The bakery is still there, Albert Masnou is now continuing it in Porto Cristo.
WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL PROFESSION?
I originally trained as a hotel manager. Then I became seriously ill and came into contact with Reiki. I learned it, after 5 years I was a master and did further training as a health coach and for detoxification support. After that I worked as a holistic energy therapist. However, I couldn't do that here at first because I didn't speak Spanish.
AND NOW THEY'RE READY?
Yes, in the meantime I still had a health food store, I am vegan myself and therefore offered many vegan products. But now I'm finally working as a therapist again: at the Son Mola Vell yoga hotel and in my practice in Manacor. That's ideal for me.
Text: Brigitte Kramer Photo: Gunnar Knechtel
The best of the island
Organic farming is practiced on ten percent of Mallorca's agricultural land. The choice for customers, visitors and tourists is growing all the time.
BIOCISTS
Això és vida
(Online ordering and
Collection at collection points)
Tel: 663 84 65 78
Va de Bio
Online ordering,
Delivery in 15 villages
www.vadebio.bio
Manacor
Son Ravanell
Camí de Conies
Distribution to 18
Consumer groups
www.sonravanell.wixsite.com/grupo-eco
Terra Nova
Fruit and vegetables
Tel: 630 18 23 40
huertologico@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/terranova.
fincaecologica
BRITT'S TIPS:
YARD LEASES
PETRA
Sa Teulera
Own fruit and vegetables
and organic store
Ctra. Manacor-Petra Km 4
Tel: 971 183 474
www.ecosateulera.com
SANTANYÍ
Bioverdura
Organically grown seedlings
Km 5,5 de Santanyí MA 6100
Huerto de Ses Salines
Tel: 693 768 015
www.bioverdura.com
CALA RATJADA/CAPDEPERA
Binifela
Fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat
Pi de S'Horta 3
Tel: 649 036 413
www.binifela.com
PORTO CRISTO
Ecoforn Més que pa
Organic bakery
C. Mediterrani 2
Tel: 615 91 09 92
LLUBÍ
Casadojo
Fruit, vegetables, meat,
Eggs, dairy products
Camí Vell d'Inca-Llubí
polígon 5, parcel-la 467
Tel: 664 65 43 57
MANACOR
It Vinyol
Fruit and vegetables
Camí Son Fangos Km 3
Tel: 971-55 29 09
ORGANIC MARKETS OR MARKETS WITH ORGANIC PRODUCTS
PALMA
Plaça Bisbe
Berenguer de Palou
Plaça Patines
Tue and Sat: 9 am - 1 pm
SANTA MARÍA DEL CAMI
Placa de la Vila
Sun: 9-13 h
BIO SHOPS
PALMA
Lo Vegano
Vegan supermarket
C. Caro, 34
Tel: 971 72 51 75
www.lovegano.com
MANACOR
Ecomercat
Ronda del Port, 22
Tel: 97 183 79 69
www.ecomercat-herbasana.com
ARTÀ
Naturàlia
Avinguda Costa i Llobera 51
Tel: 616 298 880
www.naturaliatenda.
wordpress.com
MANACOR
Sa Cantonada
Saludable
C/ Coves del Drach, 2
Tel: 871 988 614
www.sacantonadasaludable.com
RESTAURANTS
MANACOR
Plaer vegetarià
Vegetarian
C. Creuers 1
Tel: 971 55 55 04
Opening hours: limited
www.facebook.com/plaer.vegetaria
FELANITX
Sal-Marina
Vegetarian
C. Gregal 7
Tue-Sun: 1pm-4pm
Es Ginebró
Vegetarian
C. Bisbe Llompart 124
Tel: 640 37 89 32
Mon-Sun: 1pm-4pm
Tue-Sat: 20-23 h
www.es-ginebro.com
PALMA
Compost Vegano
Vegan
C/ Rubén Darío, 4
Tel: 971 09 27 05
Mon-Sat: 1pm-4pm
www.facebook.com/
compostvegano/
PORT DE POLLENÇA
Bella Verde
Vegetarian
Carrer Monges 14
Tel: 675 60 25 28
Tue-Sun: 8.30-0.00 h
www.restaurantbellaverde.
wixsite.com/bellaverde
PALMA
Bon Lloc
Vegetarian and vegan
C. Sant Feliu, 7
Tel: 971 718 617
Mon-Sat: 1pm-4pm
Tue-Sat: 20-23 h
www.bonllocrestaurant.com
ALGAIDA
Es Pontet
Vegetarian
MA-15e Ctra. Vella,
Palma-Manacor Km 22
By reservation only!
Tel: 630 39 39 54
www.facebook.com/EsPontet/
PALMA
Restaurant
Eco-Vegetarià
Vegetarian
C. Comte de Barcelona, 26
Tel: 971282562
Mon-Sat: 13.15-16.00 hrs
and 20.30-23.00
www.ecovegetaria.es
Status: 2017
Britt Müller & Joan Adrover
Like-minded people who have been going organic for years
www.cbpae.org
web cbpae.org
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