Welcome to the Hellenic Imports - Greek Specialty Shop and Reliable Business Supplier!

Olives collection procedure - Hellenic Imports

Olives collection procedure

, by Apostolos Magkoulias, 1 min reading time

Olives collection procedure

Olives collection procedure

 

The olive harvest usually starts in mid to late October and can continue into the new year. A large amount of harvest is still done by hand and relies on nets placed on the ground to catch fruit that has been pulled, raked, shaken or beaten off the trees. To assist hand harvest, devices such as pneumatic rakes and mini-shakers may be used.

After olive trees have flowered the fruit starts to develop. Initially the olives are green and hard. Gradually as they ripen they change colour to yellow-green and then to reddish purple and finally to black. These changes in appearance are matched by chemical changes within the fruit itself. Unripe olives have high levels of chlorophyll which gives them their green colour. During the ripening process the levels of chlorophyll fall and increasing amounts of carotenoid (the pigment which produces the darkening of the fruit) develop.

Oil yield is low when the fruit are unripe and increases as the fruit matures. The oil initially very bitter also sweetens at this stage. In addition the ripening will be influenced by the aspect of the trees in the grove – those in more sheltered areas and olives at the top of the tree reaching maturity first. It is possible however for the fruit to get too ripe. Most producers believe that once the crop is starting to fall off the tree the peak time for harvest is gone and the resultant oil is of poorer quantity.

Despite this though there is no ideal stage at which to harvest the olives. When deciding to create an oil the producer has to balance factors as shelf life (greatest in less ripe fruits), yield and flavour.


Blog posts

  • Nutrient composition of extra virgin olive oil - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias Nutrient composition of extra virgin olive oil

  • Olive oil against diabetes - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias Olive oil against diabetes

  • Oleocanthal, the olive oil substance against Alzheimer - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias Oleocanthal, the olive oil substance against Alzheimer

  • Olive oil against the pain of the period - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias Olive oil against the pain of the period

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

Blog posts

  • Οlive oil helping to reverse the fatty diet - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias Οlive oil helping to reverse the fatty diet

  • The Mediterranean diet against depression - Hellenic Imports

    , by Apostolos Magkoulias The Mediterranean diet against depression

© 2025 Hellenic Imports, Powered by Hellenic Imports - All Rights Reserved

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Login

Forgot your password?

Don't have an account yet?
Create account