Important news for olive oil bottlers about new European regulations.
As the article says, "Konstantinos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, has pledged to restore the Amfissa olive grove, one of several agricultural territories of the country that suffered extensive damages from wildfires in the summer."
"All of Europe’s main producing countries, with the exception of Greece, are expecting significant production drops. However, some believe the forecast is too pessimistic."
"Contrary to other main European producers, Greece expects a substantial increase in its harvest yield. However, significant challenges could hamper the final tally."
"Optimism is expressed that the prices will continue to be satisfactory so that finally all the available olive oils will be sold in a high average price (moyenne) during the whole crop year."
A consideration of the role Greek olive oil plays in the Italian olive oil sector.
This article includes a very interesting video with scenes from an olive oil tasting lab, olive groves at harvest time, and a modern olive mill, as well as comments from several Cretans who work with olive oil. (Click on the CC button for English captions if you don't understand the Greek.)
Paolo DeAndreis summarizes some key points from an EU agricultural outlook report, pointing out, "Growing demand from households and the recovery of the foodservice sector are the main drivers increasing olive oil sales in the E.U."
"Local producers prefer to export their product in bulk to Italy without standardizing it."
"More than 130,000 olive saplings have been donated to farmers in the area surrounding Ancient Olympia in the northwest Peloponnese, replacing some of the hundreds of thousands that burned in last summer’s devastating wildfires."
"According to initial estimates, 30,000 to 40,000 trees were destroyed in fires that swept through some of the oldest olive groves in Greece."
"The Hellenic Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness, a non-profit initiative aimed at promoting Greek culture with a focus on the plant-based Mediterranean Diet, one of the world’s healthiest eating plans, was launched" on Crete in May.
"The 2021/22 crop year required a swift harvest and milling due to unusually high temperatures. The coming crop year is shaping up to be better."
Daniel Dawson reports on the USDA's forecasts for global olive oil production, consumption, and trade in the next crop year.
"Despite the war in Ukraine, olive oil prices are expected to remain steady. E.U.production and consumption will rise. Exports will fall."
Given the high price of sunflower oil due to the war in Ukraine, "Officials and olive oil professionals on the island want to encourage food entrepreneurs to use locally-produced olive oil in taverns, restaurants and hotels."
A report on Greek olive oil production this crop year, and on predictions for next year. "Olive oil of high quality, medium quantity and average prices with increased production costs amid adverse weather were the main characteristics of the harvesting season in Greece."
"The Greek extra virgin olive oils were registered with an international organization that protects the product from imitation and counterfeiters in 56 countries."
"Sparta Gourmet’s high-tech mill is at the heart of a renewed local effort to produce high-quality olive oil" using a "sustainable and environmentally friendly" approach near Sparta, Peloponnese.
An international nonprofit group is leading a fundraising campaign that aims to help replant olive trees after major fires destroyed olive groves in Ancient Olympia last summer. To find out how you can help, see https://olympia-trees.com/.