Vavourakis Farm in Rethymno, Crete, started as an amateur experiment in 1995 by Michalis Vavourakis. His love for nature and commitment to organic agriculture led him to organic pig farming, and in 2002 the company became the first in Greece to produce and standardize exclusively organic pork meat and sausages, certified by the Organization for the Control & Certification of Organic Products (DIO).
The estate is located in a mountainous area of Rethymno, away from settlements, in an environmentally intact area. Animals are free-range, fed with certified organic Greek cereals, fruits, vegetables, and natural forage — with no chemical additives or preservatives used at any stage.
The meat produced is packaged fresh or used for cold cuts: ham, parizaki (a type of salami), traditional sausages, and the well-known Cretan apaki.
At the workshop, guests witness animal-derived products being crafted and learn about local meat and cold cuts. The tour concludes with a tasting of the renowned Cretan apaki served alongside raki.
Farm Tour and Tasting
- Farm Visit: Discover how a mechanical engineer’s love for nature created one of Rethymno’s most authentic organic farms, seeing the animals in their free-range environment
- Organic Principles: Learn how Vavourakis Farm maintains strict organic standards across its animals and crop cultivation in the Cretan countryside
- Tasting: Taste artisan Cretan products including the celebrated apaki and traditional sausages, accompanied by raki
