July in the Olive Grove

 ​It’s a wrap!! The Press is closed. 

Olive harvest is over for 2026 after a good season.  There was plenty of fruit out there and the season got off to an early start with fruit looking quite ripe.

Oil percentages were around 15 – 18% at the start but after our mid harvest rain they seemed to drop back to 10 -14%.  The trees were very dry going into harvest and sucked up the moisture from the rain which plumped up the fruit with a lot more water.  That water is lost in processing so the weight of fruit to oil volume extracted changes the ratio and the percentage drops.

As well as our regular growers we have had many new growers bring in fruit for the first time.  It is pleasing to see more people making the effort to harvest trees they have long ignored so they can enjoy their own olive oil.  Spread the word, if you know of people with trees, let them know how easy it is to have your own local olive oil so they can be prepared before next season. Referring people to our website (olivepressmarlborough.co.nz) is a good start.

You will have noticed that your olive oil was quite cloudy when you picked it up.  That is the suspended sediment from the pressing process and will settle over time.  It’s a good idea to let your oil sit somewhere quietly in a cool, dark place to settle for a month after processing.  Suspended sediment tends to degrade olive oil faster so if you are keeping it for any length of time this settling process is important.
 
It is also important for long term storage for olive oil not to be in plastic.  Although you may have collected your oil from the Press in food grade plastic even this, over time, will degrade and taint the oil.  Long term storage should be in stainless steel or glass bottles.

If you can’t wait, it doesn’t matter, the Italians love their Olio Nuovo (new oil) straight away and prize it for the vibrant green colour, grassy-peppery flavour and the high concentration of polyphenols. 
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Enjoy your oil.

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​Shareholdings
If you have shares that you are not maximising or no longer need it may be worthwhile selling some.  We are constantly being asked for shares by new growers or others wanting to expand their shareholding to cover increased volumes.

If you want to downsize your share portfolio, contact us [email protected] and we will send the appropriate paperwork.
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Alternatively, if you want to buy some shares when they become available, please fill out an Application for Shareholding (on our website) and we will add you to the list of people waiting for shares.