Forecasts for Italian olive oil production this year are pessimistic, according to Unaprol-Consorzio Olivicolo Italiano, the National Union of Olive Oil Producers, which represents the sector.
According to the group, the 2016 harvest is going to decrease by 37% (298,000 tonnes), if compared with last year.
The southern part of the country, a traditional producer of olive oil, will suffer more than the North. In Apulia, a decrease of 40% is estimated, because many olive trees are being damaged by bacterium Xylella fastidiosa.
A worse harvest is predicted in Sicily (-42%) and Campania (-49%), however Veneto will grow 30% more than 2015.
Italy is the second biggest producer of olive oil in the world, after Spain.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dario Romano. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
