During our visit to Crete, we saw so much activity in the olive harvesting process. It turns out that the season for picking olives runs from November to February. Crete plays a crucial role in Greek olive oil production: approximately 200,000 tons of olive oil are produced annually on the island, out of a total of 430,000 tons in all of Greece!
Crete provides an ideal environment for olive trees: the island enjoys more than 300 sunny days per year. The soil consists mostly of limestone and clay, ensuring good drainage and preventing the roots from becoming too wet. The constant sea breeze helps reduce fungal diseases and improves air circulation around the trees.
The olive tree blooms in spring, from April to June, with white blossoms. By June, these flowers develop into olives, which gradually ripen and become fleshier. During the ripening process, the olives change from bright green to a softer shade, indicating that they are ready for harvesting (starting in early November).
We witnessed this process firsthand at several locations in Crete and captured it all in this video:
More in detail, this is how the process works step by step:
With the help of small rakes, the fruit is gently removed from the branches and collected in nets. After that, they are placed into burlap sacks. It is essential that the harvested olives are processed within 24 hours to prevent fermentation and loss of quality.
At the local olive press, the olives are cleaned of twigs and leaves and then thoroughly washed to remove dirt and any pesticides.
Next, the olives—including the pit—are ground into a homogeneous brown paste. This paste is then slowly kneaded in a process called malaxation.
After kneading, the paste undergoes centrifugation, separating the oil from the water and solid particles. This results in pure extra virgin olive oil.
The oil is then stored in 1,000-liter stainless steel tanks. After a period of natural self-filtration, the olive oil is bottled in dark glass bottles or tins to protect it from light. The oil is then distributed to both local and international markets, allowing consumers worldwide to enjoy high-quality Cretan olive oil.
