In these warm days of july and august we are harvesting the organic and biodynamic almond that we grow in Cortijo el Puerto.
Certified by Demeter, the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture, and one of the three predominant organic certifiers, our almonds become a worldwide benchmark for biodynamic almond cultivated in hedgerow system, five almond varieties framed in a global biodiversity recovery and regeneration environmental project.
The fruit of the delicious and nutritious almond tree is gathered in our fields in the early light of the sun on these summer days often accompanied by the song of cicadas in the company of a multitude of insects, birds and small mammals that make up the landscape of biodiversity on our biodynamic farm.
100% Organic & Biodynamic
Our young almond trees are organic “from birth”, in accordance with Cortijo el Puerto’s philosophy, combining Ecology and Technological Innovation with a clear commitment to quality.
We are aware that our role in nature must be proactive, thus Cortijo el Puerto is part of a local and global movement committed to plant and animal health and being a guarantee of quality, achieving a balanced product, tasty and nutritious.
Organic & Biodynamic Certified (world premiere we announced in 2019). In the 2020 harvest, the joy of having been awarded the prestigious “Spanish Food Award” (Premio Alimentos de España) in the Organic Production Category was mixed with concern about the current situation. This 2021 harvest is painted in green, the colour of Ecology and Hope.
All these circumstances encourage us in our conviction and commitment to the sustainability and regeneration of nature. The biodynamic almond cultivation implies prevention measures, land care and soil protection. Its regeneration and enrichment, supported in compost and preparations in an organic and natural way.
Over time, it implies strong cost savings, a noticeable expansion of recycling and much more self-sufficiency and, above all, plant health, from the soil to the ripening of the almond, and that is a guarantee of quality.
Eco-Innovation
In 2013 we became the first farm in Andalusia to introduce this new system based on two innovations: the first, rootpac 20, result of the research of Agromillora, world leader in the nursery sector. In 2019 we become Organic & Biodynamic Certified (world premiere )
The plum hybrid (Prunusbesseyi x Prunuscerasifera) is endowed with a dwarfing pattern that converts any variety of almond tree that is grafted, into almond trees of low vigor, with the consequent adaptation to hedgerow formation. This allows early maturity and production, reduces pruning work, and enables automated harvesting with the same harvester as the olive tree.
The harvested varieties are results from the research of the CITA of Aragon: Isabelona and Soleta whose objective was to obtain a similar fruit to the varieties most valued by consumers: Marcona and Desmayo largueta, but including multiple improvements in the field in terms of agronomic management: like late flowering avoiding the early and self-fertile frosts, thus allowing pollination without the need to cross pollen of different varieties. At the same time, traditional varieties such as Lauranne, Ferraduel and Guara have also been raised.
In Cortijo el Puerto we rely on organic & biodynamic farming. We like to define ourselves as a project of environmental sustainability and ecosystem regeneration in which high quality and nutritious food products are also produced.
In addition, in alliance with technology, we incorporate Precision Agriculture to make farming an intelligent rural area. Aerial images with diverse information about the plantation are obtained, the crops are managed remotely and in real time, and the intervention is carried out with the accuracy of a surgeon.
Sowing, tillage and harvest are done respecting the rhythms and principles that ensure the health of the soil and plants, and, in a derivative way, produce a healthy nutrition for animals and for human beings.
The innovative hedgerow system has multiple advantages:
Reduction of harvesting costs.
Fully mechanized harvest.
Reduces pruning work, and enables automated harvesting with the same harvester as the olive tree.
Quality improvement:
varieties of late flowering
high productivity, highlighting the quality of the fruit and a high ease of training and pruning
Bio: Creating hedgerows it is great way to have harmony in the Orchard because of the diversity of wildlife they attract.
Hedgerows are mixed plantings of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and ground covers that provide nectar, food or fruit to bring diversity to our Ecosystem at Cortijo el Puerto:
Provides covers for fauna (also one plus for us). There are many native species of wildlife that rely on these areas as a way of travelling.
Increases the habitat resource availability for essential wildlife, including species that undertake pollination or act as natural controllers of other pest species, contributing to biological control and thus, reducing the need of pesticide usage.
In summary, The provision of trees and hedgerows can deliver numerous benefits economically, ecologically and environmentally.
Quality, Ecology and Innovation are core features of Cortijo el Puerto.
In this way, the harvest becomes the end of a long journey of research, work, effort and affection: Our model is able to answer the great challenges that the agricultural sector is already facing: scarcer rainfall, more degraded soils due to abuse and neglect and a demand for higher quality food as well as long-term sustainability. This is us, and today you are invited to know a little more about it in Cortijo el Puerto.