Initial estimates so far warn of a noteworthy reduction in Greece’s olive oil production in the forthcoming harvest season, with some regions’ yield expected drop by 50 percent, compared to last season.
According to the president of a national association of olive oil exporters, Grigoris Antoniadis, this year’s production in Greece will hover at 140,000 tons.
He attributed the forecasted year-on-year reduction to inclement weather – i.e. heavy rainfall – and the average age of crop-bearing olive trees.
“When production is up one year, and down the next, the reason is the tree’s output capacity… a tree cannot produce successive good harvests,” he said.
Finally, producers have complained of inadequate measures to combat the Xylella Fastidiosa bacteria that attacks olive oil trees.
