HARVEST CHARACTERISTICS
Unlike the previous two harvests, the effects of the frosts of December 15th 2001 were not very significant. This harvest can be considered to be 70% of what would be a normal harvest. In contrast to the previous year, we were able to start the production cycle well which meant that the flowering of the olive trees was very good. However, the scant rains during the period just before harvesting (September and October) meant that most of the olives didn't reach their full size and that they fell easily from the tree.

This last point lead us to change the picking method. At the beginning of November the trees were shaken to collect those olives which fell to the ground and then the rest were hand picked or subject to further shaking.

With regard to plagues which may effect the quality of the oil, as is common in our area the extreme climatic conditions help to eliminate those which in other areas have to be chemically treated. In so far as the quality of the oil is concerned, this is very good. Frosts were delayed sufficiently to allow most olives to be collected, thereby guaranteeing the quality of most of the oil produced.