Over the course of the past week we were in Italy working on new product for the upcoming season and had the opportunity to work on the Olive harvest. The harvest is an amazing experience. This is something that technology really has not touched. Much of the olive harvest is still done by hand. Men and women climbing in trees picking the olives.
This is a photo of our olives after they have been picked and are laying in nets on the ground. These olives are not edible and they are only used for the oil - but what amazing oil. We are learning that our olives near the city of Lucca (30 minutes from Pisa, 50 minutes from Florence) are some of the best in the world. Because of the soil, the vacinity to the Mediteranean Sea (it is far enough away that the salt air does not hurt the fruit) and the southern exposure it helps to create even what the Italians call their #1 "Olio Olivo".
We harvested about 10% of the trees in 1 day and the olives yielded just under 20%, which is above average. However, the next photo is what we consider the "Liquid Gold", the first press olive oil. For those who have never experienced fresh pressed, first press oil - we hope you have the opportunity one day. After tasting this you will believe that food is simply a vehicle for olive oil. This isn't the stuff you buy at the grocery store and you will never settle for off the shelf oil again!
No comments:
Post a Comment