Why We Choose Integrity Over Labels
At Piro, we believe that the quality and purity of what you consume should speak for itself. Our extra virgin olive oils are made with uncompromising care and precision, using olives sourced from small family farms in Tuscany and Puglia that adhere to exceptional agricultural standards. These farms not only meet, but regularly exceed, the strict criteria of both European and U.S. organic farming practices.
So why isn’t there an organic seal on our bottles?
The answer lies in a reality many small-scale producers face: the official certification process is often inaccessible, not because of agricultural shortcomings, but due to the administrative and financial burdens attached to the label.
The Cost of a Label
Organic certification in Europe is rigorous—and rightly so—but its structure inadvertently favors large-scale producers with dedicated compliance teams and budgets. For smallholder farms, the upfront cost of certification can exceed half their annual income. And this doesn’t include the required time investment to manage inspections, paperwork, and ongoing compliance.
For a family-run olive grove in Tuscany, the direct costs of certification typically range from €1,300 to €2,300 per year—including inspection fees, paperwork processing, and occasional lab testing. For farms earning just €10,000–€20,000 annually, this can consume more than 10–20% of their income.
Additionally, the required "conversion period"—where farmers must comply with organic practices without being allowed to market their product as organic—places a further financial strain on operations that are already operating with slim margins.
And that’s only the beginning. Certification also involves exhaustive documentation, annual audits, traceability logs, and compliance reports—demands that small farmers must meet without administrative support. A 2023 study published in Agricultural and Food Economics describes the paperwork as “excessive and disincentivizing,” particularly for producers who are already meeting or exceeding organic standards in practice.
The situation has worsened with recent changes to EU regulations. Group certifications—once a lifeline for cooperatives—are now capped at 2,000 members and require additional legal structures and oversight. Meanwhile, individual farms face stricter residue testing, more inspections, and heavier traceability obligations that divert attention from the grove to the desk.
These changes are creating a system where farms that already operate well above organic standards are unable—or unwilling—to participate in the certification process due to cost and complexity.
Piro’s Approach
At Piro, we prioritize quality, transparency, and long-term sustainability over performative compliance. Our sourcing model allows us to work with trusted small farms who care deeply about the land, the fruit, and the final product—but who cannot justify the expense of a certification that does nothing to improve their already-exceptional methods.
These farmers, along with the Piro team, already implement the key pillars of organic agriculture that pertain to olive farming
- soil health management
- buffer zones
- the exclusive use of approved inputs
We conduct rigorous chemical and sensory analyses and manage our supply chain directly to ensure complete transparency. Rather than passing along extra costs for a label, we invest in better farming practices, faster bottling times, and strict freshness standards.
While we may not carry the organic seal, our oils reflect a level of integrity and quality that goes far beyond what that label can guarantee. We stand by the work we do and the farms we support—not because of certification, but because of principle.
