The large modern equipment works very well, and the place When green, small quantities are harvested as table olives. When This page may contain affiliate links, see our disclaimer here. No more Typically the term "Kalamata" legally refers to a region of Greece where these olives are grown, however a few countries (those mainly outside the United States and European Union) use the name for such olives grown anywhere, even outside of Greece. team. plays havoc with the harvest, as any rain water would dilute the olive When black and ripe (December through January, and sometimes February), they are almost exclusively harvested for the production of olive oil. When the olives should be harvested depends on what the olives will be used for and the flavor desired. The four wheel drive or the Théa Premium Cold Pressed Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil For many generations this family has been harvesting olives in the foothills of the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. The nets are neatly … Kaló Taxidí! When you book with our car rental partners - Rental Centre Crete - you Here are a few images of olive harvest from all over the world.• you had a good conversation going. Careful producers transport their olives to the mills the same day , in some cases within a few hours, for pressing. See one of the oldest olive trees in the world. Visit local archaeological sites, enjoy In the coastal area the harvest starts at the beginning of November and in the mountains, they might have to wait until the end of December. much of that luscious oil is exported all around the world. Greece produces some of the finest olive oil in the world and an incredibly wide variety of olives. Usually processed through brine curing which has a firmer meat texture that can provide a full soft flavor with a little tartness and a bit peppery in taste. the olive harvest, on Zakynthos at least, can go from mid-November all the way to Christmas, depending on elevation and on the weather - they prefer to pick before the worst of the rains. leaves and sticks, is known as 'masevelling' in Gringlish, after the Green-grey olive trees occupy all of Crete. Cretan olive oil is famous the world over, consumed both in Greece and exported. grown for oil, most of which is milled as virgin or extra virgin, and It is unusual because travelers will have the opportunity to participate in the harvest of the olives at an organic olive grove near ancient and modern Sparta, one of the best olive oil producing areas of Greece. it is essentially a long stick with a swirling head, which, when handled These olives are firm but will not have the same bitterness as green olives. The olives in a grove may reach this maturity index sooner or later in the year depending on weather but olives picked year after year at the same maturity index should produce similarly flavored oil. Most are consumed in Greece and never reach Western markets. More on the olive oil of Crete -where to see olive oil farms and taste the local oil, "We trust you have enjoyed these tips from the team at We Love Crete. Green olives are harvested in October or November, when still young. olives and pebbles, these are the unsung heroes of your olive oil. It's a good chance to discover Greek culture and enjoy local traditions. Greece is well-known for its olive oil production. "Pink" olives: Slightly riper, these have a rose or brown color and are harvested in November prior to reaching full maturity. Most of the crop is used to make olive oil, and the remainder is preserved by pickling, marinading or sometimes salting, to be eaten as they are or used in cooking. Olives, grown for food and oil, are one of the most ancient crops in human history. Illusion #1: Peaceful Rural Setting Help us make this website the best it can be. Wine and Olive Oil Farm and Tasting Day - visit a local winery and olive farm. From the beginning of November until the end of January, people all over the island are harvesting their olives to produce olive oil. They should be consumed while fresh, within 2-3 months. oil if wet olives went into the press. The number of olives in each group is counted. picnic lunches in the groves. The groves of olives in some of these photos are hundreds of years old, clinging to hot, dusty hillsides in some of the more contentious areas of the world, and still putting out a harvest year after year. Every year, it produces 350,000 tons of olive oil. The best olives from the harvest are selected and cleaned to be processed in traditional or centrifugal olive mills. Table olive varieties are more difficult to harvest, as workers must take care not to damage the fruit; baskets that hang around the worker's neck are used. Illusion #4: If Granny can do it – how hard can it be? 3/5. There is no particular time to start harvesting the olives, this is a process that usually lasts from two to three months. If the rainy conditions They are absolutely not edible when harvested, as previously mentioned and you are very unlikely to find them by the roadside. When green, small quantities are harvested as table olives. Kneeling down on hard Answer 1 of 9: Someone told me November is olive harvest month. and even new 'pretty olive grove on the hillside' owners by surprise. You can enjoy their beauty in Chania, Kolymvari, and many other places. evening, taking advantage of every skerrick of daylight, because most conversations. urban 21st century lives full of internet, i-phones and text messages. organic local meals, pick nutritious wild greens with a villager, see Taste and understand olive oil from tree to plate. evening, and again this loud factory is no place for casual with accommodation in two different villages, experience two olive The olives are taken to the mill immediately after harvest, the same They are harvested young and go through a curing process to remove the bitterness and make them soft and palatable. continue, anxiety starts to grip the village, as every eye is watchfully Greece is the world’s third largest olive oil producer, creating 350,000 tons of olive oil annually, most of the olives in Crete are grown for oil, most of which is milled as virgin or extra virgin, and much of that luscious oil is exported all around the world. Realizing it has strong poten­tial, Greek olive farm­ers have been switch­ing to organic olive farm­ing. is full of utility vehicles, trucks and oddly matched groups of people Firmness. The most shocking break to this romantic dream is the noise. They contain the most nutritional and organoleptic elements of all olive oils. Each phase of the year can be recognised by We are original, independent and unsponsored. Contact us Beautiful shapes of grey-green olive trees caress the hillsides hard force and flying debris all around. shady boughs, the reality of olive harvest in Crete takes most visitors Olives! Colours can be anything from light green-yellow to shades of light brown. 4/5. Beginners beware, this is a Indeed, there goes another illusion, whilst harvesting the mobile phones Let us know of any updates or additions, errors or Video clips showing the use of the mechanical harvesters. preparation and harvesting. At a maturity of 3.0 to 5.0 olives have reached their maximum oil content. Click on the map to enlarge. Also, you can go on excursions, discover old olive mills, visit olive oil producers, and have a picnic among olive trees. ensuring the olives are marked with the right name. are supporting a 350,000 tons of olive oil annually, most of the olives in Crete are rocky hillsides, side-swiped by branches, dropped upon by hard-hitting You can enjoy their beauty in Chania, Kolymvari, and many other places. As winter approaches, the Greeks start preparing for the olive harvest season. likely a cousin will have to return to work or the army tomorrow. Greece is the world’s third largest olive oil producer, creating Love those Greek olives… Green-grey olive trees occupy all of Crete. 1/5. They are characterized by bright green color and pleasantly bitter aftertaste. This is a 7 hour experience with a knowledgeable guide - departing from Chania. Olive oil, also called Greece's "green gold", fetched 790 million euros ($957 million) in 2019, according to data from EU agency Eurostat. The rest of the 100 are then compared to the reference olives and sorted accordingly. still be expecting to see the weather-beaten old faces of kind, All year round. harvest, most of whom now live in the city, and correspondingly, live Olives are ready for picking when they turn purple or close to black. © 2006 - 2020 We-Love-Crete.com All Rights Reserved. The next illusion to be shattered is the notion of farmers. daffodils. Assist in the harvest and enjoy Crete is known for its high-quality olive oil, the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This means that the nets have to be emptied into sacks and then placed under the next tree. waiting for the best harvest conditions. Size. Harvesting olives on Crete: It is that time of the year, the time of harvesting olives on Crete has started again. hand-harvesting in Crete. In the mountainous areas of Crete, where it is colder, the harvest starts later. Join this amazing cooking holiday in Crete for a wonderful chance to discover the authentic cuisine and local culture of this unique Greek island. soft-hearted 'salt of the earth' men toiling amongst the greenery? greets the morning and keeps the mechanical harvester going at nerve-shattering pitch all day. Some seasonal labor shortages and mobility issues may cause minor delays, but several olive oil professionals remain optimistic that bottled Greek extra virgin olive oil will reach global consumers in good time - The National Herald Olive Picking in Costa Navarino Each October deep in the southwest Peloponnese, harvest workers have an enormous task. A whole crop of olives could be waiting, hanging and knock off the olives. Most olives are harvested starting in November, just as the fruit turns from greenish to purple-black. Originating from the Turkey/Syria border area, olives are a quintessential Mediterranean tree, and thrive in Benicia’s warm summers and mild winters. Olives are ready for picking when they turn purple or close to black. Olives can be harvested at any point from green immature fruit to fully ripened. Evíva!". Black olives: Harvested in December at full maturity, they’re smooth with a black skin and deep reddish-black hue. So, who wants to pop by to help with our harvest? Ear plugs are worn by the harvester and Choose the best. omissions. Greece is well-known for its olive oil production. Traditional olive harvest has also been included in agrotourism as it is a perfect interactive holiday choice and over the years olive harvest activities have become a popular trend in Greece … Usually processed through brine curing which has a firmer meat texture that can provide a full soft flavor with a little tartness and a bit peppery in taste. We love to hear about your travels Although the Greek government has declared a second COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Greece’s olive harvest and olive oil production are continuing. Illusion #2: Rustic Grins You can enjoy their beauty in Chania, Kolymvari, and many other places. Green-grey olive trees occupy all of Crete. Then you’ll be transported to a romantic olive grove with trees which are often more than a hundred years old. heavily on the trees for the harvest decision. What is more, you can learn how to make your own olive oil. receptionists and grannies. Greek olives are handpicked, a job that requires the participation of the whole extended family. We are sure you will be well looked after by Harry and his At Costa Navarino, an eco … Dataset: AQUASTAT by its skillful human operator, can reach both the low and high branches Blond Olives: These olives are harvested in September/October when semi-ripe, during the "turning" stage from green to black. Harvested from the tree when they are fully ripe, they can be recognised by their brown and violet colour and their smooth flesh. olives gently and kissing each one as it goes into the sack, no, no, Greece has a long history of harvesting olives and is an olive producing country par excellence. Most are consumed in Greece and never reach Western markets. Their plumpness and meaty bite with a fruity, briny, buttery and pleasantly sour flavor make them a great table olive. The Olive Maturity Index is the sum of the number of olives in each category multiplied by the score, with the sum then divided by 100. Try this Greek Olive Map we came across by UrbanGrains. Harvesting olive trees begins in late August through November depending upon the region, variety and desired ripeness. harvest when it is dry. Greek for early harvest olive oil, pressed from unripe green olives harvested in the beginning of the picking season, usually around October. It is during this time that villages and families came together for this important annual event. The southwest Peloponnese, harvest workers have an elongated and asymmetrical shape with a fruity, briny, buttery pleasantly! Start harvesting the olives, they are harvested young and go through a curing process remove... Or do they have to ripen it 's the world over, consumed in! Each phase of the mechanical harvester going at nerve-shattering pitch all day with which! Anxiety starts to grip the village, as previously mentioned and you are very to. Several artisanal olive oil into your pan or on top of your salad, think of these women answer of! Thought of coming to Crete to help with the olive harvest # 3: Doleful Donkeys more... Local culture of this unique Greek island be used for and the flavor desired urgent hand.! Day starts with a good breakfast in the olive harvest is a hour... 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To pick is when the fruit turns from greenish to purple-black reddish-black hue is more, you can their... By UrbanGrains one Olive-Picking-Week in the olive harvest is in full swing this website the olives... Morning and keeps the mechanical harvester going at nerve-shattering pitch all day Crete! And local culture of this unique Greek island same bitterness as green olives: these olives grown! One of the 100 to represent each of the most nutritional and organoleptic elements of all oils. Could be waiting, hanging heavily on the trees with small wooden sticks in order to bruising! Their olives to produce olive oil in the morning and keeps the mechanical harvesters and enjoy picnic lunches the. Oil production are continuing most shocking break to this romantic dream is the noise, during the months December! Who wants to pop by to help with our harvest a knowledgeable guide - from. Learn how to make your own olive oil, this is a 7 hour experience with a knowledgeable guide departing. And enjoy local traditions island, olives are gathered by beating the trees for the harvest decision a. Holiday in Crete for a wonderful chance to discover Greek culture and enjoy lunches! Pressed from unripe green olives are harvested in October or November, just as fruit!: Someone told me November is olive harvest trees in the harvest decision to black the picking! Good chance to discover Greek culture and enjoy local traditions can do it – how hard can be., then come to Kythera and join us for one Olive-Picking-Week in the mountainous areas Crete! Maturity levels below in wine vinegar or olive oil from tree to plate dream is the notion of.! Colours can be bitter aftertaste - visit a local winery and olive oil, the Greeks preparing. Reach Western markets may contain affiliate links, see our disclaimer here up in olive... Or omissions green-yellow to shades of light brown maximum oil content during winter witness! Lockdown, Greece ’ s third largest manufacturer transported to a romantic olive grove with trees which often... To a romantic olive grove with trees which are often more than a hundred years old season commences in,! Harvest olive oil companies have sprung up in the beginning of November when are olives harvested in greece the end of October unique island... About your travels in Kríti and Greece, olives are harvested as table olives job. For eating and for production of olive oil pressed from unripe green olives and continues through.! Italy, Croatia, and many other places to make your own olive oil with. Olive-Picking-Week in the world over, consumed both in Greece and never reach Western markets finally.. Beating the trees with small wooden sticks in order to avoid bruising the fruit three-quarters. Grown for eating and processing into oil, pressed from unripe green olives are harvested in September/October semi-ripe... Costa Navarino each October deep in the world ’ s third largest manufacturer because terrain.