Olive Oil Harvest

Would you like to experience a short part of the long journey of the olive, which is the symbol of civilizations, literature and different beliefs? The known existence of the olive tree dates back 50,000 years. This historic tree comes to life in April each year and begins to bend its branches in October, bearing fruit. The coloration of the fruit from green to purple and then black signals that it is time to harvest. After harvesting, it enters our kitchen as table olives or as olive oil to give our dishes a unique flavor. The harvest is the most important phase of the olives until they reach our homes. The time and method of harvesting have a major impact on the quality of olives and olive oil.

When Are Olives Picked?

After the seed hardens, it begins to hold oil in the olive. Olives are harvested when the highest amount of oil formation is complete. Although it varies from region to region, this usually starts in October-November and lasts until the end of February. When used to make table green olives or early harvest olive oil, it can be harvested earlier. However, it is necessary not to wait long before harvesting, after the olive oil collection has ended, that is, the seed hardens, and the fruit turns purple-black. The acidity of the harvested olives increases and the quality decreases.

What are the harvesting methods ?

The olive harvest can be done through traditional methods such as hand picking from the olive branch or through the use of machinery. By waiting for the olives to be poured, the lower olives can also be collected manually or by mechanical means. However, lower olives are of low quality. The methods of olive harvesting from the branch, carried out using traditional methods, are as follows:
Handpicking : A blanket is placed under the olive tree. The cover is raised off the ground by driving small stakes to the edges of the olive harvesting cover. Even if the olive when collecting. It will not be injured if it falls to the ground. Injuries or bruises cause the olive to deteriorate faster. Olives are picked by hand by plucking the branches. It is a laborious and time-consuming method.

Picking with a pole :

Olives are made to fall by hitting the branches with a stick. Harvesting can be done by pole picking to reach the olives on high branches. Pole picking, however, can damage new shoots and reduce the amount of olives next year. In addition, olives dropped with a pole can be injured and begin to spoil. For these reasons, pole picking is not recommended for olive harvesting.

Harvesting with scraper combs:

The olive harvest can be carried out with scraper combs that allow reaching high branches. However, care must be taken not to damage the shoots when using the combs.
The mechanical olive harvest is preferred in regions with high tree population.

Mechanical harvesting methods are as follows;

Harvesting with a beater:

In this mechanical olive harvesting method, the flexible materials at the end of the machine meet the branches of the olive. The machine constantly hits and rotates the tree. With this method, olives can be harvested without being damaged, but harvesting efficiency can be low because the machine cannot reach between the branches.

Harvesting with a trunk shaker:

The trunk shaker vibrates the trunk of the tree and makes the branches shake. It is one of the methods that can be used on not very tall trees.