With the start of the olive season in Aydın, there has been a rush in the oil mills for olive oil production, and the journey of transforming the olives collected with great effort into oil has also begun.

In Aydin, Turkey’s olive paradise, the olive harvest and olive oil production process continues at full speed. Although the season, which was overshadowed by drought, brought hard times to the producers, the quality of the olive oil produced makes them happy.

The Adventure from Olive Gardens to Oil Mills

Aydin has an important place in olive oil production as one of the provinces with the most olive trees in Turkey. This year, due to the late rains, the olives could not reach the expected size. Producers began to carry the olives they carefully collected from the trees to the oil mills.

In the oil mills, the olives are cleaned of leaves and branches, then washed and crushed to a paste consistency. The pressing process is completed in facilities equipped with modern technologies, and olive oil is obtained. Since the beginning of the season, producers have expressed that they are happy with the price per Liter of olive oil.

Drought Hits Production Hard

Naime Mert, one of the producers who brought her olives to be pressed, stated that the olives were small this year due to the drought, and said, “Our olives are good, but they are not large because of the lack of rain. The oil content of the olives changes according to their size. Some get one litre of oil in 11 kilograms, some in 7 kilograms. Small olives give less oil.”

“Low Acidity, High Quality”

Onur Efe Şengün, an oil mill operator, said that they produced quality olive oil despite the effects of the drought. Şengün said, “This year, the season started late. Due to the late rains, the bottom olives were only picked. In some olive groves, the olives have dried up. However, the yield is better in stream beds or areas close to water sources. While there are places where one litre of oil can be obtained from 4 kilograms of olives, there are also olive groves where oil can be obtained from 12 kilograms of olives.”

Şengün emphasized that the low flesh content of olives has a positive effect on the acidity rate, and said, “This year, the acidity rates are very good. We usually move between 0.4 and 0.5. In addition, pressing fees have increased compared to last year. While it was 2 thousand TL per ton last year, this year it has increased to 2 thousand 500 TL.”

Intense Working Hours in Modern Oil Plants

Oil mill owners are working at full capacity to keep up with the busy season. Stating that they are making an effort to provide fast and quality service to producers, operators say that increasing demand has created dynamism in the olive oil sector.

A Taste Story from Aydin to Olive Oil

As olives turn from tables to olive oil in Aydın, the local people work with great devotion to carry this valuable product, offered by labour and nature, into the future. Although drought has created difficulties, the quality and aroma of Aydın olive oils continue to be a source of pride for producers.  Source: https://yenisokegazetesi.com/

 

You Must Login For Comment