olives

Hi Everyone!

It’s olive season here in Sicily! It’s the time of the year where many families who have olive groves gather and collect the olives off the trees in order to have them pressed into olive oil. For those of you who are olive oil connoisseurs, you know it doesn’t get better than this. For those who have never seen how olives are collected by a family here in Sicily, follow me to my in-laws olive grove….

Now, not every Sicilian family has an olive grove. It happens that my in-laws have a second home in the countryside because my father-in-law loves to garden. So among planting vegetables, you will also find A LOT of olive trees. Mostly green olive trees and a couple of black ones. Around October, they generally collect the olives to take them to the press where the olives are squeezed into oil. This is called 1st press and is the best. Unlike many commercial olive oils that are mixed, this olive oil is pure. Some olives are kept aside for brining in oil or vinegar. And there is nothing like pure, organic olive oil. Some say it’s too pungent, however it you love good quality oil, than you would love this oil =)

My in-law’s olive grove

olive trees

A net is placed under each tree to collect the falling olives.

olive trees

This is an olive raker…it’s attached to a kind of tractor that generates power to gently shake the olives off the tree without bruising them, enabling them to fall onto the net.

olive trees

Now, you try to remove the large branches, however the small ones as well as the leaves remain. No worries, they will be separated my machine when the olives get pressed.

olives

olives

They are then bagged and ready to go.

olives

olives

And when after they get pressed into oil, I will update with a picture of the delicious olive oil it yields!

So when in Sicily, be sure to buy some fresh olive oil (from a local!) to take back with you =)

La dolce vita!

Wanita =)

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