Advertise
The olive harvest is officially underway across the Istrian peninsula, with the first oils of the new season already entering production. However, industry experts and local growers warn that a combination of prolonged summer heat and severe drought has significantly escalated production costs, which is expected to translate into higher retail prices for consumers.
According to reports from HRT, the extreme temperatures experienced during the growing season delayed fruit ripening in several parts of the region, making the cultivation process far more demanding. Growers who possessed the infrastructure to irrigate their groves have generally seen better outcomes as the picking season begins. In Galižana, near Pula, producer Fabio Šimunović is currently harvesting Istrian Bjelica olives from his 120-tree grove. He noted that the fruit has reached its peak despite the lack of a fixed calendar, describing the olives as bright and yellow. He estimated that while younger trees are yielding approximately 20 kilograms, older trees in the region can produce between 60 and 100 kilograms per tree.
In the Rovinj area, mechanical shakers and traditional nets are being utilized to streamline operations. Local grower Ardiano Nadešić emphasized that a well-coordinated team is essential to ensure that olives are collected immediately after being shaken from the trees. Once harvested, the fruit is transported to mills as quickly as possible, a critical step in preserving the chemical and sensory integrity required for high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Despite the climate challenges, mill owners like Emanuel Grubić in Bale report that early yields are satisfactory, ranging between 10% and 14%. This efficiency—translating to 10 to 14 liters of oil per 100 kilograms of olives—is attributed to the lightness of the fruit following the intense heat. Sandi Chiavalon, a mill owner in Vodnjan, characterized the early oils as exceptionally balanced, featuring pronounced pungency and fresh green aromas without excessive bitterness.
While the quality remains high, the financial reality of the season is stark. Increased irrigation needs and labor costs are driving price projections upward. Paolo Kalebić, a grower from Rovinj, anticipates that his organic olive oil will retail for between €36 and €40 per liter. He argues that such pricing is the minimum required to justify the labor-intensive nature of organic production. These developments occur as Istria celebrates being named the world's premier olive oil region for the tenth consecutive year by a prestigious international guide, with two local oils achieving perfect scores of 100 points.
Source: Croatia Week