OLIVE PICKING

Help with the Olive Harvest

2011-10-06T22:03:00.002+01:00

Are you looking for a new challenge? A chance to spend a week or longer doing something different? Often people with many olive trees to harvest, or old groves to restore would welcome help in return for varying deals: normally think in terms of a days work in exchange for free board. If you want help or wish to offer help you can post on the site and we will try and match opportunities with volunteers.

Use this link to find out more:
http://www.olivepicking.com/Olive-Pickers-Required.html

Hispellum Start Their Harvest

2011-09-28T17:33:00.001+01:00

Images Copyright Azienda Agraria Hispellum

I would like to wish Azienda Agraria Hispellum very good luck as they start around a month of Olive Picking this week. They grow their olives using biodynamic methods in the hills surrounding Spello. This beautiful part of Italy is near to Assisi. They grow the Moraiolo cultivar which needs picking earlier than many other varieties to produce an outstanding monocultivar oil: Terre Rosse (I love their description of a full round oil with fruity tones and a strong personality)!

Can I Come Olive Picking Without Hiring A Car?

2011-09-24T17:01:00.000+01:00

"APE" the Italian for 'bee'

I love this APE (pronounced 'ah-pay') the Italian must have vehicle for Nonno's and Boy Racer's (yes really as you can drive one when you are only 14!!) However I digress!

A number of people have contacted me to find out whether a hire car is essential for a holiday olive picking. The good news is that for a number of holidays you don't need to stress about driving in a strange country (and possibly also on the 'wrong' side of the road!)

If you browse through the Olive Picking Holiday Directory you will find a number of options where you can opt to travel by train and in some cases your hosts will be very happy to arrange to meet you from a nearby station (or else can arrange your connection for you).

Do watch this - it will definately make you laugh. Ahh mi piace molto!

An Olive Picking Holiday

2011-09-22T16:29:00.000+01:00

If you have already been on an olive picking holiday you will know how special it is: the friendships, the location, the olive oil (like none you have ever tasted before), the food, the experiences ...

Now is the perfect time to book your holiday with an excellent range of options - a weekend or a week, picking for several days, or just an hour to get a feel of things. Browse the main www.OlivePicking.com website for ideas, but whatever you do make sure this is on your lifetime 101 list, I personally promise you won't be disappointed. Many of our holidays are offered at excellent rates and by booking now you will benefit from cheap air travel and car hire.

If you aren't sure where to go or which holiday would suit you best please email me on admin@olivepicking.com and I will be happy to help. The main thing is just to DO IT!!

The World's Most Expensive Olive Oil

2011-08-22T22:03:00.000+01:00

Lambda Olive Oil

Sitting here thinking about the depressing financial state of the economy at the moment I got to wondering about which is the world's most expensive olive oil. It would appear that the answer is an oil from the Kritsa region of Crete.

Lambda is an intensely fruity oil with a very low acidity. Made from Koroneiki olives that are cold pressed within 8 hours of picking, the resulting oil is poured into specially designed flasks and then stoppered with a silicone cork, all this is done by hand to create oil of the finest quality - marketed as the world's first luxury olive oil.

If you want to sample some for yourself you need to dig deep into your wallet - the price is around 150 euros per litre! If this isn't quite impressive enough you can pay more to have your signature engraved on the bottle, quite a bit more actually - this will set you back over 10,000 euros!! More information is available from the Sperion Company.

Olive Conservation in Malta

2011-08-21T22:19:00.001+01:00

Photo credit: rosevita from morguefile.com

Indigenous olive trees growing in Malta were at risk of being lost and replaced by imported cultivars. Dating back over 2000 years these native trees have shown good resistance to disease especially to attack from the olive fruit fly.

To prevent the loss of these ancient trees retired jeweller Sam Cremona set up the PRIMO project (a collaboration between the Maltese Government and the Bank of Valletta) which is working to use grafted cuttings to increase the stock.

The long term aim of the project is to have over 30,000 trees grown across Malta and Gozo enabling the production of monocultivar Maltese olive oil.

Bioenergy From Olive Trees

2011-08-18T21:57:00.000+01:00

The use of olive tree prunings for fuel is traditional in olive growing areas throughout the world. Now however, as fuel prices increase and concerns grow about sustainability, the possibility of commercial energy production from olive tree prunings is the subject of various research projects. Biomass is an alternative energy source which is gaining increasing interest - it will be fascinating to see how these initiatives develop. Already the waste from commercial olive oil production is being used for energy generation, Spain in particular is making use of olive pits to generate domestic and commercial heating solutions.

Congratulations Australia!

2011-08-15T12:47:00.000+01:00

The Australian Olive Association has reported that the 2011 harvest has produced just over 16 million litres of olive oil - so fire up the barbie! Victoria is the highest producing state responsible for over 10 million litres.

Whilst production is slightly down on predictions, due in part to the heat and heavy flooding earlier in the year, the good news is that over 80% of this olive oil meets the extra virgin classification.

Send A Postcard

2011-08-11T16:12:00.000+01:00

Email is great but why not surprise someone by sending them a postcard this summer! Inspired by photos taken during my travels a range of high quality products are now available including cards, mugs, aprons, bags and mouse mats. The best news is you can customise them at no extra charge - so why not add a name or message and MAKE SOMEONE'S DAY - today!

The Olives Are Waiting by OlivePicking
Browse other Ripe Postcards

This brilliant design service comes from Zazzle, please use the link above to view the products direct (they don't have a white border this is just for display on the blog).

Australian Olive Oil Standards

2011-08-01T12:27:00.001+01:00

Olive oil producers in Australia are welcoming the introduction last week of voluntary new standards which will ensure more accurate labelling of olive oil (both home produced and imported). These provide a clear definition what can be classified as Extra Virgin Olive Oil and producers will need to verify their oil production methods in order to use terms such as first extraction and cold pressed. Bottles will also be required to carry a 'best before' date that has been accurately formulated. The industry, represented by the Australian Olive Association gave a welcome to the standards which have come about after a lengthy, ten year, consultation process.

Our Olive Oil Intake is Increasing!

2011-07-07T12:05:00.002+01:00

UK consumers are purchasing more olive oil now than at any time previously. Foreign travel, cookery programmes and health benefits have all driven up the amount of olive oil we consume. Annual sales have reached £150 million a year, with a steady increase over the last twenty years.

However for me the amazing statistic is that half our households in the UK don't use any olive oil! For me extra virgin olive oil is my 'can't live without' culinary item (along with sea salt and fresh black pepper).

Surprise Result From Olive Oil Testing

2011-07-02T11:52:00.000+01:00

The revered UK consumer magazine "Which?" recently carried out a taste testing on 12 extra virgin olive oils commonly available in the UK. The surprise result from this 'blind' tasting was that the winner was Napolina's standard extra virgin olive oil. This cheaper Napolina oil beat their more expensive Special Selection product (which costs almost £2 more) and came top overall.

Latest Award for Greek Oil

2011-06-16T11:25:00.000+01:00

I am delighted to congratulate The Astrikas Estate in northwestern Crete who have just won an award for their organic, stone milled and cold pressed Biolea oil. This latest quality award is from 'Gastronome' which rewards producers, processors and traders of outstanding Greek produce. If you are visiting Crete this summer the Astrikas Estate is located at Kolymbari about 30 km from Chania and they offer a warm welcome to visitors throughout the year. Concerned with the environment and sustainability the company works to promote organic cultivation in Crete.

Croatia Wins Best Non European Oil

2011-05-23T11:23:00.004+01:00

Sandi Chiavalon by Goran Šebelić (http://www.istria-gourmet.com/)

At the recenty held 10th International Olive Oil Awards in Zurich the award for Best Non European Olive Oil went to a contender from the Istrian region of Croatia: Ex Albis produced by Sandi Chiavalon. If you are interested in visiting this region why not explore the Olive Oil Roads of Istria. Find out more information from the Istrian Tourism Board or via the istria-gourmet website which includes this portrait of Sandi Chiavalon taken by Goran Šebelić.

Other Olive Oil routes to explore can be found on the Olive Picking website.

Australian Olives

2011-05-21T10:44:00.000+01:00

Early indications are that this is going to be an amazing year for the Australian olive harvest, with yeilds in areas such as western Victoria, up by 50%. This is due to the wet summer which has left trees laden with ripening olives. Family owned Toscana will be busy gathering olives from around 28,000 trees. Their award winning extra virgin olive oil comes from one of Australia's oldest olive groves established in 1943. If you live in Australia you can contact them for a free tasting sample! Elsewhere you can buy the oil online. Enjoy!

An Easter Wish

2011-04-24T14:45:00.001+01:00

There is a lovely tradition across the Mediterranean of blessing olive branches in church on Palm Sunday, these are then taken back and placed in the home to ensure its protection throughout the year to come.

May I wish all my website visitors a safe year and a very Happy Easter.

Peach Blossom In An Olive Tree

2011-04-18T20:57:00.002+01:00

A peach tree seedling had clambered its way up into an old olive tree and was decorating the branches with perfect, almost artificial looking, pink flowers. I would love to see it when the fruit start to ripen.

Pruning Time

2011-04-14T20:57:00.000+01:00

I have just returned from visiting the Le Marche and Abruzzo regions of Italy and everywhere olive trees were being pruned. The weather was glorious and each fine day was marked with spirals of smoke reaching out across the valleys as the branches were burnt. It was really good to see the trees being so well cared for.

An Olive Picking Holiday

2011-03-24T13:26:00.009Z

Yes it's NOW the ideal time to start planning your olive picking holiday in order to get the exactly what you want and also to take advantage of good prices for flights and car hire. Olive picking is the perfect break to combine with a city stop too, and now you can book all your travel needs via our site to make it even easier! If you need further help or advice just email us. Now it's up to you to start browsing and planning ...

A Miserable Spring

2011-03-17T17:58:00.002Z

our hand-picked-home-bottled-extra-virgin-olive-oil

You know you are having a cold spring when you go to get a bottle of olive oil out of your cupboard and find it has solidified!! Roll on summer and hot days ahead, but at the moment I'd be happy to settle for just a little more warmth. If you live in a land where your oil is always liquid I envy you!

Why Not Buy Your Own Olive Tree?

2011-03-16T11:29:00.005Z

Mature Olive Trees Available from Villaggio Verde

www.villaggioverde.co.uk

If you are reading this, the chances are that you love olive trees and the feeling of security and well being that they evoke. But did you know that olives grow well in countries like England with cold winters (surprisingly an older tree can cope when temperatures go down as low as -12°C). Why not buy a fabulous hundred year old olive tree with its knarled and twisted trunk and underplant with lavender or rosemary to create your own very special place to sit out and dream this summer.

Now the Swallows Can Fly Through!

2011-03-06T10:58:00.000Z

There is a traditional saying that I love which says you should prune your olive trees so that 'the swallows can fly through', meaning that the ideal tree shape is one with an open centre allowing air and sunshine to penetrate right into the heart of the tree. This promotes vigour and prevents disease. Olive pruning normally takes place at the end of the harvest and the cut wood makes an excellent contribution to the log store!

The Perfect Gift For Your Loved One

2011-02-13T16:25:00.004Z

If you are looking for a romantic gift why not adopt an olive tree (or two): this makes a wonderful, affordable and unusual present, not only will you get a photograph of your tree (which often you can go and visit) but you will receive your 'own' extra virgin olive oil to enjoy later in the year. Click here to find out more about this unique way of showing just how much you love someone ...

Help Us Discover The Best Olive Oil

2011-02-10T16:28:00.002Z

At Olive Picking we are keen to share our discoveries with you, but today we need your help to find the best olive oil. Your nominations will help us create a new page on the website. Just tell us about your favourite oil using the comment box below this post.

Olive Oil Can Lift Depression

2011-01-27T12:25:00.002Z

I was interested to read today of a University study confirming that olive oil can help prevent depression. There is certainly something life affirming about adding olive oil to your diet. For me I think it is partly because it triggers memories of harvesting the olives. I remember the views from the trees as I clambered around and the scent of crushed mint and oregano underfoot. It certainly lifts my spirits on a grey cold January day.

Happy Days Harvesting Olives

Wine and Olives

2011-01-18T12:22:00.000Z

I have come across a great Tuscan proverb that says: 'where olives can't grow, a great wine is impossible to make'. Olives and vines both have an ancient history of cultivation and respond to being grown with love and care. This allows the terroir (the alchemy of plant, environment and soil) to influence the resulting oil and wine. Visit the Olive Picking Video Diaries to see two wineries one in Portugal and one in California, both growing olives for extra virgin olive oil.

It has to be healthy - it contains figs!

2011-01-06T22:40:00.000Z

I have just sampled a delicious taste of Italy ..

Imagine a log of wonderful things: dried honeyed figs, almonds, walnuts, dates, pistachios, bitter chocolate, brandy, strega and more ... dusted in icing sugar, wrapped in rice paper and served sliced into small sublime rounds.

Labelled as 'frustringo' I found 'frustingolo' mentioned on the internet - a traditional dolci from Le Marche, but their version is baked unlike here where the ingredients are just mixed together and left somewhere cool for a month to mature (it would be brilliant to make and serve alongside Limoncello as both take about the same waiting time).

A big thank you to my sister who introduced me to this delight and to her friend Jack who lovingly made it - grazie mille!

1/1/11

2011-01-01T14:11:00.003Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR

1.1.11

What a special date! I would like to wish everyone a very happy and successful 2011. May all your hopes come true.

A New Year Resolution

2010-12-29T22:26:00.000Z

Olives Against A Blue Sky by OlivePicking

If, like me, you are thinking of making small changes to become more eco-conscious in 2011 how about starting off by buying a bag to put your shopping in (and so avoiding all those plastic carriers). This great bag can be rolled up and popped into your pocket ready for use. You can also customise it at no additional cost - adding your own name or slogan. Happy Shopping!

Season's Greetings

2010-12-24T22:12:00.001Z

With very best wishes from a cold and snow covered UK.

An Olive Picking Advent Calendar

2010-12-01T20:15:00.007Z

It is now December and so we begin the Christmas countdown. I have created an online Olive Picking Advent Calendar which I hope you will enjoy.

Please note our advent calendar was only available during December - but why not visit www.OlivePicking.com and try your hand at our quiz instead.

Making Limoncello

2010-11-26T21:32:00.000Z

We have spent a cold and frosty afternoon making limoncello. Just like with the olive picking the scent from the lemons pervades the air and stains our skin! Our homegrown taste of Italy.

My Airport Gift Upgrade

2010-11-25T12:47:00.002Z

The Olive Harvest on a Tea Towel

Last week when I was flying back from Ancona I decided to go and browse around the gift shop at the airport. Suddenly I saw a tea towel that made me smile - a map of Italy showing the whole process of the olive harvest - this I thought was meant for me. I collected together €3.50 in small change - apologising for the growing pile of coins but the lovely lady who served me insisted this was fine. She took my purchase - carefully folded and wrapped it in a pretty bag and sealed it with a decorative butterfly clip. Exemplary customer service - I just wish I'd asked her name but to the unknown lady at the Ancona airport gift shop grazie mille.

Present Inspiration Starts Here!

2010-11-24T17:44:00.003Z

It seems hard to believe that in just over five weeks time it will be Christmas! If you need a little present inspiration why not visit The Olive Picking Gift Store - from a key ring to an olive grove - there should be something to suit everyone.

You can start shopping HERE.

Ancient Olive Trees For Sale

2010-11-23T20:39:00.003Z

These very beautiful and ancient olive trees form part of an olive grove which is currently for sale. They are in southern Italy, in Puglia and I am trying to resist the temptation to rush straight down there and buy them. If you are equally tempted contact Italian Properties.

Yes The Olives Are Ready

2010-11-15T15:57:00.000Z

Just back from a fortnight spent in Le Marche in Italy. Everywhere we went there were olives just waiting to be picked.

The Apple and The Vine

2010-11-12T16:02:00.000Z

Apple trees support vines outside Gualdo in Le Marche

Not olive trees but a fascinating glimpse at some great cultivation. The old apple trees were growing on a hillside outside Gualdo and up each had been trained a grape vine.

All That Remains

2010-11-11T16:32:00.000Z

Inside the mill is full of noise and activity as the new oil is being produced. Outside it's much clamer the only sign of the harvest being the silver leaves falling gently into the trailer.

Pressing the Olives

2010-11-10T16:22:00.001Z

Pressing oil from the olives the old fashioned way

Thanks to Bob and Ian from Casal Dei Fichi I got the chance to visit their local mill in Mogliano (Corradini Corrado & Co). Here as well as more modern equipment they still use the old pressing techniques - the stone wheels crush the olives and the paste is then pressed between discs to extract the oil. I came back with fruity, peppery oil pressed from the 'Piantone di Mogliano'.

Everyone is Busy

2010-11-09T16:08:00.001Z

A little quicker than hand picking but not as peaceful

This week everywhere is alive with the sound of people being busy on their land. Tractors are driving up and down the fields, olives are being taken from the trees - it is great to be part of this rural way of life if only for a while.

Penna San Giovanni

2010-10-31T21:45:00.000Z

A doorway decorated for the Chestnut Festival in Penna San Giovanni.

Italian Olives

2010-10-30T21:46:00.000+01:00

Help Available With Your Olive Harvest

2010-10-28T17:00:00.007+01:00

Thanks to Russ and Sergio at La Grande Quercia for this brilliant photo. This is a fabulous boutique bed and breakfast in Abruzzo.

If the thought of your olive harvest leaves you feeling like this read on ...

An Italian speaking American based in Turin is available at weekends and would like to volunteer to help you. If you can provide an opportunity for olive picking please make contact via An American In Turin.

How Many Olives Are Needed to Make Olive Oil?

2010-10-21T11:36:00.000+01:00

There are a huge number of olive varieties and these vary in their oil content. The amount of oil that an olive produces is also influenced by the growing and climatic conditions and of course the milling process.

Generally it will take somewhere between 4 and 8 kg of olives to make a litre of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and that will involve picking over 1000 olives.

hand picked olives waiting to go and be milled

EVOO or CPEVOOO!

2010-10-21T11:26:00.002+01:00

The acronym EVOO stands for extra virgin olive oil but I thought I could go one better with cold pressed, extra virgin, organic olive oil.

If you go olive picking the chances are that this is what you will be bringing home. I guess it is then HP (hand picked) CPEVOOO enjoy!

hand picked cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Remember if you want to arrange your own olive picking experience visit http://www.olivepicking.com/ to find out how.

Olive Oil Pizza Bread

2010-10-21T10:47:00.004+01:00

I have been making OLIVE OIL Pizza Bread tonight. It is a delicious way to use some of your special extra virgin olive oil and a great accompaniment to any sort of pasta dish.

Pizza Bread Recipe:

750g strong white flour
1 sachet easy blend dried yeast
200ml milk
225ml warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil

plus: rosemary leaves, chilli flakes, sea salt and more olive oil to put on the top!

Mix the flour and yeast together in a large bowl. Mix the water, milk and olive oil together and pour into the flour, stirring to make a ball of dough which leaves the sides of the bowl clean.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and silky. Wash and dry your bowl, wipe inside it with a film of olive oil and put the bread mixture back in to rise (this will take about an hour and a half in a warm place).

When the dough has risen put your oven on to its highest setting and put a baking sheet in to heat.

Turn the dough out of the bowl and divide into three pieces (I normally freeze two for later - when using thaw and pick up recipe again at this stage). Roll into a round about 1cm thick. Leave for 5 minutes then poke the tips of your fingers into the dough to make holes that will retain the olive oil. Drizzle the top with olive oil, sprinkle with chopped fresh rosemary, add some dried chilli flakes and a sprinkling of sea salt.

the dough sprinkled with rosemary, chili and sea salt

and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil

Now comes the tricky bit - take your very hot baking sheet out of the oven, stand it somewhere heatproof like the oven hob while you carefully place your bread onto it. At this stage your neat round will probably end up a much more rustic shape but that is all part of its charm.

Bake for about 10 - 12 minutes (turning the baking sheet round after 8 minutes if it is browning too much on one side).

We normally devour this as soon as its cool enough to eat.

the baked olive oil pizza bread

This recipe has been based on one in the Low Fat No Fat Cookbook published by Reader's Digest.

Olive Varieties - the Cornicabra

2010-10-15T22:32:00.006+01:00

Did you know that Spain has more than 250 varieties of olive in cultivation? Many of these have wonderfully evocative names like the 'cornicabra' which means 'goat's horn' and gets its name from the shape of the fruit (plus I have to say some imagination!) The oil itself is fruity and golden yellow with a smooth and velvety texture.

The Cornicabra

Picture credit: http://www.asoliva.es/

Welcome to the Olive Picking Blog

2010-10-15T14:17:00.003+01:00

This blog is designed to keep you up to date with everything olive and olive oil related! Please use it to add your comments and suggestions.