Italian Olive Oil Production Bounces Back After “l’anno brutto” of 2014

After a steep decline in olive production of 2014 throughout all regions of Italy, this year the harvest is once again bountiful and of good quality. Although 2015 may not produce as many olives as a peak year, like 2013, would, the olive industry is no longer suffering from the many plights it faced last year.

Disastrous weather and the infestation of the olive fruit fly (mosca olearia) ruined most of the crop. The winter of 2013 was wetter and warmer than usual, which created optimal conditions for the olive flies to burrow inside olives and lay eggs. When the larvae hatch, they eat their way out of the olive, destroying the fruit. Another problem appeared to be a plant bacteria called Xylella fastidiosa, which facilitated the destruction of crops and infected 74,000 acres in Puglia. The EU has ordered infected trees to be removed from the land.

During 2014, the overall olive production in Italy fell by 37%. Southern regions usually produce the most olives, but last year in Puglia, production fell to almost half from 186,000 tons to 82,500 tons. Calabria similarly expects 186,000 tons a year, but only harvested 99,000.

The problem also affected mass producers Spain and Greece, and with the various problems hurting olive harvests throughout Europe, the overall olive oil output fell by 20%. Prices soared from under three euros to six euros for a bottle of olive oil, and people were urged to buy their favorite kind before it ran out.

But the “l’anno brutto” or “l’anno nero” (awful year, dark year) is over, and although 2015 won’t break any records, it promises a stable year for olive oil production in Italy. Puglia is expected to put out 30% more than last year, but even this leaves the region short 8% of its usual numbers. Brindisi and Foggia are also making improvements by 40% and Taranto by 35%. However, not every region is improving, as Buchheri faces a non-fruting year.

Overall, Europe looks like it is bouncing back from low olive oil production of 2014 with its usual quality of product.

-Marisa Wherry