CIHEAM Press Review

Although the Greek government has declared a second COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Greece’s olive harvest and olive oil production are continuing. Some seasonal labor shortages and mobility issues may cause minor delays, but several olive oil professionals remain optimistic that bottled Greek extra virgin olive oil will reach global consumers in good time.

As the harvest gets underway in Sicily, three of Italy’s main agricultural organizations estimate this year’s olive oil harvest will be earlier and smaller than last year.

"The choice of many farmers to proceed with an early harvest in 2020 because of the climate conditions means priority must be given to the quality of the product, not to its quantity." David Granieri, president, Unaprol

The 2020 olive har­vest in Greece, mean­while, has been ham­pered by the con­tin­u­ing coro­n­avirus pan­demic.
Foreign work­ers are scarce in many olive oil mak­ing ter­ri­to­ries of the coun­try. Those who are avail­able are required to demon­strate a neg­a­tive COVID-19 test result before work­ing in the fields, with grow­ers charged with the respon­si­bil­ity for their test­ing.