2006 FORECASTS FOR ITALIAN OLIVE OIL: ACCORDING TO UNAPROL, AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

it is a “loaded” year for Italian olive oil, with less parasite attacks and an increase in production of extra virgin olive oil: these are the predictions for the 2006/07 olive campaign according to Unaprol, the Italian olive consortium.
According to the director of Unaprol, Ranieri Filo della Torre, “…it is easy to foresee a good performance by Italian olive orchards within the European and global context”. No numbers or figures, but just “a harbinger of good and satisfying productive hypothesis”.

From the investigations that Unaprol has made, it appears that over one third of Italian olive companies are preparing new investments over the next three years for the acquisition of machines and equipment. 26% of all olive businesses is run by women, while 16% is run directly by young farmers.
On the consumer front, the DOP and organic extra virgin olive oils are pushing prices up for these guaranteed products, which have caused even the doubling of prices for 100% extra virgin olive oil products. And small-sized producers are increasing as well, with their “private labels” claiming 12% of the market quota for organic and DOP products.

”A phenomenon that’s growing” – concluded Filo della Torre – “rewarded by increasingly demanding consumers in regards to such themes as mandatory notification of origins on labels, and subsidization from reforms in the olive oil sector that is increasingly directing efforts towards investments in market systems for Italian olive enterprises”.