Prolonged olive crop season; lesser yield, bigger cost due to weather conditions

The harvest of the olive trees was prolonged until the 1st week of January, with many obstacles due to the harsh weather conditions. The warm weather of October and September did not benefit the oil accumulation inside the fruit, and the heavy rainfalls of November and December caused delays in harvest and intensive fruit fall. The produce loss is estimated to be around 10% on average.

The delays led to a significant number of outbreaks of the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae). In southern regions, five reproductive cycles occured in the season, which used to be 2-3, and farmers are suffering from increased cost production due to repetitive spray application. Olive oil production of 2022 is estimated to be 12-14% lesser than that of 2021, but growers and exporters expressed positive outlooks as demands and prices are driven up.