Istria’s very early olive harvest promises top-quality oil

On Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, the olive harvest has started earlier than ever, with promising yields despite a dry summer.

Growers in Rovinj and Vodnjan are expecting high-quality, aromatic olive oil, thanks to timely September rains that replenished the crops.

In parts of Istria, the olive harvest has begun earlier and the first olives are now being picked, and while they may appear slightly green at first glance, they are ready for harvest.

Rovinj olive grower Rino Šuran told HRT how to determine if it is the right time to harvest and whether the olive is ripe: when cut with a knife, the pulp of the olive should be one-third darker than the part near the stone.

September rains saved the crop after a dry summer, replenishing the fruits. Although the yield isn’t record-breaking, it is still good.

“We have a variety of situations. Some of our older trees produce a large crop, while younger orchards are still developing. But with an average yield of 25 to 30 kilograms per tree, we are satisfied,” Sandi Chiavalon, an olive grower from Vodnjan, told HRT.

The ideal harvest time is also determined through laboratory analysis, as explained by food technologist Anja Novoselić.

“Our equipment helps us make quick decisions so that we can preserve the aroma and taste characteristics that are of premium quality, while still achieving good yields.”

The early results are positive. Depending on the variety, 7 to 12 litres of oil can be obtained from 100 kilograms of olives.

“The oil is of excellent quality, with distinct aromas – it’s phenomenal,” says Ester Geissa Đurić, the owner of a local olive mill.

There is no expected price increase, with a litre of premium olive oil priced at 25 euros.

Livio Belci, an olive mill owner from Vodnjan, believes the price is fair.

“Costs are high. Throughout the year, no one sees us when we’re working on tractors. While people are relaxing in the shade, we are out in the olive groves,” he says.

Istrian olive oils are among the best in the world, as evidenced by the latest edition of the global guide to extra virgin olive oils, where around 70 Istrian oils were ranked among the top 500 worldwide.