Contents 11 sections
The time had come again: we set off to celebrate the 150th anniversary of our long-standing olive oil supplier together with the company. On site, we gained fascinating insights into the olive groves and the modern production facilities for high-quality organic extra virgin olive oil.
The long tradition of this family business is particularly impressive. The olive trees have been in the family for generations and are now cultivated by experienced olive farmers in the fifth generation.
150 years of family history and olive oil expertise
The company’s history goes back to the second half of the 19th century. A small olive oil mill was founded in the 1870s. With a stone mill, a roller driven by a mule and a traditional press, around 200 kilograms of olives could be processed within 24 hours at that time.
Today the company has grown into an internationally active producer. The modern facility now has a milling capacity of around 300 tonnes per day. Despite this growth, one goal has been at the centre for more than 150 years: producing high-quality extra virgin olive oils and continuously developing the production processes.
Why olive oil has recently become significantly more expensive
Olive oil prices have risen sharply in recent years. The main cause is severe crop failures as a result of persistent drought and extreme weather conditions in southern Europe.
Spain in particular, as one of the most important olive oil producers worldwide, is affected. Rising production costs, falling harvest volumes and a decline in demand have meant that numerous traditional oil mills are experiencing economic difficulties or have even had to close.
This development shows how closely quality, availability and sustainability are linked in modern agriculture.
From blossom to harvest
When the olives ripen depends on various factors such as climate, variety and location. As a rule, the fruit is harvested between the end of October and the beginning of November.
Depending on the cultivation system, olive trees start bearing fruit at different ages. In modern intensive and super-intensive cultivation systems, the trees bear fruit regularly from as early as their third or fourth year.
A tree for generations
Olive trees are among the longest-living crops in the world. Many trees reach an age of several hundred years, some considerably more.
With the right care and expert pruning, olive trees can remain productive throughout their entire life. Older, less productive branches are removed and younger shoots that bear particularly well are encouraged.
Sustainability along the entire value chain
More than ten years ago, our supplier began implementing extensive measures to protect the environment and promote biodiversity. The sustainability strategy covers both the olive groves and all production and packaging processes.
Agriculture
- 100% organic management of the olive groves
- Precision farming based on modern remote sensing systems
- Participation in the European biodiversity project ‘Olivares Vivos’
- Solar-powered drip irrigation
- Use of moisture sensors for demand-based irrigation
Production
- Circular economy through the upgrading of by-products
- Biomass heating systems
- Solar PV systems for generating the company’s own electricity
Circular economy in practice
A special sustainability project was implemented in 2016 with the construction of a facility for using by-products. Components arising from olive oil production, such as skins, pulp and vegetation water, are processed together with animal manure into organic fertiliser.
This creates a closed loop in which residues are used as a valuable resource. The resulting fertiliser replaces chemical fertilisers and supports the long-term soil fertility of the olive groves.
The olive stones are also fully used. They serve as biofuel for the company’s heating systems, making an additional contribution to resource efficiency.
Social responsibility in the region
In addition to environmental measures, regional development also plays a central role. Around 95% of the employees come from the immediate surrounding area. In this way, the company actively contributes to the economic stability of rural regions and counteracts rural depopulation.
Equal opportunities are also put into practice: the workforce is made up of around 60% women and 40% men.
Mission, vision and values
The company’s mission is to cultivate, produce and bottle high-quality extra virgin olive oils from organic farming. This is based on ideal climatic conditions, suitable soils and decades of experience in olive growing.
Tradition and innovation are deliberately combined. Knowledge passed down over five generations is combined with modern technologies to ensure high quality standards and the responsible use of natural resources.
Sustainability is the central element of the company philosophy. The aim is to preserve the olive groves for future generations in as healthy a condition as when they were taken over.
Conclusion
The visit to our long-standing supplier impressively showed how tradition, quality and sustainability can be combined. More than 150 years of experience, organic farming, modern technologies and a consistent circular economy make the company an important partner for high-quality organic olive oils. At the same time, it is clear what challenges climate change and rising production costs pose for the entire sector.
