Labor Scarcity Led to a Bad Olive Oil Yield in Greece

Labor scarcity in Greece prolonged the 2022 oil-olive harvest to January 2023. The unprecedented warm winter resulted in olive fruit diseases. Now farmers have to decide between spending money to continue harvesting poor quality olives or stop harvesting, losing any yield left on the trees. The overall Greek olive oil yield is smaller than in any other season, and good quality olive oil is very scarce, especially organic. Additionally, it is the first time that pomace oil is offered first to be sold, followed by the extra virgin oil, which is kept in reserve to sell at higher prices.