Virginia Urges Olive Growers to Keep Varieties Separate, Announces Weekly Pricing and Three Collection Centres in Matrouh

Dr. Abdullah Yadem, Chairman of the Board of Virginia Olive Mills, has called on olive growers to keep the different varieties and quality grades of their crop separate during harvesting and delivery, rather than mixing them, in order to preserve the quality of the extracted oil and ensure a fair value is set for each variety.

In press statements, Yadem explained that mixing causes serious harm to both production and consumers. The company noted that 'a single kilogram of fallen olives in a 100-kilogram sack is enough to lower the quality of the entire load and spoil it', which undermines olive oil quality, raises its acidity and strips it of its premium characteristics.

He stressed that each category must be delivered separately, as follows:

• Fallen (windfall) olives, separately.
• Rain-fed olives, separately.
• Irrigated olives, separately.
• The 'Dolce' variety, separately, as its oil extraction yield is lower than that of other varieties.

Yadem added that the price of each type will be set according to its quality and condition, noting that the company has put in place a regular weekly pricing plan for all varieties delivered, to ensure transparency and protect farmers' rights.

To make the current season easier for growers, he announced three main crop collection centres in Matrouh Governorate:

• Sidi Barrani
• El Qasr area
• El Dabaa city

Dr. Abdullah Yadem concluded by underlining the company's commitment to offering rewarding, very good prices to farmers who comply with the separation and quality requirements, stressing that delivering a healthy, safe product to consumers is consistent with the standards and ethics the company applies across all its manufacturing operations.

Source: Press statements by Virginia Olive Mills