Extra Virgin Blog

In all places of Spain you can find olives and olive trees. Normally you do not notice it, in all gardens, parks, fields, near the roads… you can usually find some olive tree, big or small, it’s don’t matter. But this is the reason of the 46% percent of world export of olive oil and table olives to the rest of the countries, including Italy. Because they buy Spanish olive oil, its cheaper than their own and the quality is the same or better. In Andalucia you can find exceptional quality of olive oil, vinegar and olives in the same place where buy vine or jam, but usually those products are much expensive than in shopping centers. I guess about 6 euro 500ml of EVOO or the same price for 250ml of Modena vinegar.

For example I have done some pictures of olive trees in “Rivas Vaciamadrid” (Near Madrid) in the park this October:

In Spain Olives everywhere, in pubs, restaurants, gardens, parks, shopping centers, news i live here about 15 years and do not notice this… but this is the simple reason of the production and the quality of Spanish olive oil. It is a part of our culture, we can’t live without of extra virgin olive oil.

About 580.000 tons of olive oil were waiting water from the sky in Andalucia. Almost 52 days ago it did not rain in southern Spain. This great valley of Guadalquivir is the  largest producer of olive oil and table olives in the whole world, i think about 40% - 45% of all olive oil production is from this place. Also now is the crucial time, because it is now when olives grow and fattening. From the last Monday, 24th of October it’s raining a lot in Andalucia, a little less than expected, but better than nothing. 

Also the private storage of olive oil in Spain plan to store about 30.000 tons of olive oil. The price is 1.30 euro for each ton and day, although to this day have been stored 19.000 tons of olive oil of 24.000 expected. Because of the lack of support from the “Junta de Andalucia”.

This year as you can see there is a tough crisis in olive oil industry. The prices fall, production grows, export also grew. The owners of olive oil plantations have less money to pay workers, in Andalucia there are more than 30% unemployment… Tough times for all in Spain.

According to the Agricultural Cooperatives from Spain, the production this year will reach 1.365.674 tons of olive oil. The production the last year was 1.389.149 tons of olive oil, this number is 1.69 percent more than present 2011-2012 campaign. However this amount of olive oil is 24,2% more than the average amount of olive oil produced during the last six campaigns.

Also the lack of rain in the Andalucia (The zone that produce about 90% of olive oil in Spain) can affect to the final result. If this October will have no rain in those part of Spain, the olive plantations without irrigation will have less and poorer quality oil. However if Spain will produce less olive oil, the prices will grow.

Near Toulouse (France) inside old Castle was held an auction where one olive tree was sold for 64000 euro. This one was about 3.10 meter tall and his weight was about ten tons. His radius was approximately 6.9 meters. Olive trees that have radius more than 4 meters are considered ancient (more than 1000 years). In only two days more than 400 visitors approached to this particular event, and the second one will be organized the next spring, where other two ancient olive oil trees are going to be sold. Those two olive tree are considered Spanish Historical Heritage, and they were removed from Valencia (Spain) before the law that prohibits take out ancient olive trees by one Spanish collector ( In this case speculator)

Also the other 17 olive oil trees was sold the past weekend, the price range was from 1000 to 64000 euros. Almost all of them were sold to special collectors and the other for decorate some kind of program of event organizer.

The team of Spanish researchers from Department of Neurology at Hospital University of Navarra, the Primary Health Care services of Osasunbidea, Clinic Hospital of Barcelona and Institute of Fat of Seville published initial findings about benefits of diet rich in extra virgin olive oil and nuts against heart disease.

The researches had three groups of volunteers. First group with diet rich in VOO, second group with diet rich in walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts and the third group with instruction to follow low-fat diet. After one year of analysis the initial results showed that the VOO group and nut group had the improved adoliproteing ratios and delivered lower heart disease risk.

The results showed that in just one year the diet patterns rich in olive oil and nuts achived better results than drugs. 

Pets Solutions is the first company in the wordls which launch Olive Oil only for pets, like dogs, cats or ferrets.  Because olive oil is not only good for us, but its very healthy for our pets too. The olive oil contains vitamins A, E and Omega 4 acids. Adding olive oil to the diet of our dog or cat will improve their nails, fur, heart health and food digestion.

In addition with this food supplements they also will launch social network like Facebook for our pets.

I’am proud to welcome all of you to my humble and simple weblog about Spanish Olive Oil. The purpose of this site is inform about the current status of olive oil and olive sector in Spain. I’m sorry for my poor english, I’m trying to improve myself every day, that is the other purpose of this blog.

In this site I’m going to post about my ideas, views about Spain, olive oil, green olives and other boring stuff that maybe seems interesting for someone in other countries. 

If you want to know about me, I’m some kind of web developer who works in olive oil company in Madrid Spain, about ten years. That company is the biggest exporter of Spanish olive oil to the rest of the world.