Jan. 27, 2026
Olive Oil Times Sommelier Certificate Program Returns to London in March
The Olive Oil Times Education Lab will host its five-day Sommelier Certificate Program in London from March 9 to 13, offering immersive instruction in olive oil sensory analysis, production, health, culinary applications and quality assessment.
Jan. 22, 2026
EU Lawmakers Delay Mercosur Trade Deal After Narrow Vote
Less than a week after the EU–Mercosur trade deal was signed, the European Parliament voted to delay its approval pending a legal review.
Jan. 22, 2026
Olive Oil Sector Weighs Opportunities and Risks as EU-Mercosur Deal Nears Approval
As the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement moves closer to approval, olive oil producers in Europe and South America are weighing new export opportunities against concerns over competition and market balance.
Jan. 20, 2026 News Briefs
EU Audit Finds Gaps in Olive Oil Controls Despite Strong Regulatory Framework
Jan. 20, 2026 News Briefs
Spain Announces Expanded Anti-Fraud Controls for Olive Oil Sector
Jan. 14, 2026 News Briefs
Jan. 14, 2026 Production
Ice and Subzero Temperatures Test Olive Trees in Northern Adriatic Hinterland
Jan. 7, 2026 Production
Greek Olive Growers Face Sharp Declines as Pests Ravage Harvest
Jan. 6, 2026
Chianti Classico PDO Celebrates New Harvest at Florence Event
The Chianti Classico PDO Oil Consortium marked its 50th anniversary with ‘Novo,’ a new event in Florence celebrating extra virgin olive oils from the latest harvest.
Jan. 5, 2026
How a Family Mill in Florence Built Five Decades of Olive Oil Craftsmanship
Now led by its third generation, Frantoio Il Mandorlo has evolved from a local mill into an award-winning producer while remaining deeply rooted in the Florentine landscape.
Jan. 5, 2026
Scientists Identify Xylella-Tolerant Olive Varieties and Test Heat Treatments
The BeXyl project has identified olive varieties with greater tolerance to Xylella fastidiosa and reported early results from an experimental thermal treatment against the bacteria.
Jan. 5, 2026
EU Delays Mercosur Trade Deal After Italy and France Withhold Support
The European Union has postponed signing its Mercosur free trade agreement after Italy and France declined to back the deal, citing concerns from domestic farmers.
Jan. 5, 2026
Early Data Points to Weaker Olive Oil Production Across Andalusia
Farmers across Andalusia are reporting lower olive harvests and weaker oil yields early in the 2025/26 season, raising fresh doubts about Spain’s production outlook.
Jan. 5, 2026
Europe’s Olive Oil Sector Poised for Recovery Despite Climate and Market Pressures
The European Union’s latest Agricultural Outlook projects a recovery in olive oil production driven by higher yields and orchard modernization, even as climate stress and declining consumption pose long-term challenges.
Dec. 23, 2025
Early Harvests, Ethics and the Pursuit of Exceptional Olive Oil
Slovenian miller and olive grower Sandi Babič explains why early harvests, ethics and personal responsibility are the foundation of world-class olive oil.
Dec. 19, 2025
Heat, Drought and Rising Costs Drive Down Portugal’s Olive Harvest
Official estimates point to a 20 percent decline in Portugal’s olive harvest, with uneven yields across regions and mounting pressure on traditional producers.
Dec. 19, 2025
Greek Farmers Block Roads Over Delayed Subsidies and Low Olive Oil Prices
Greek farmers blocked motorways and border crossings nationwide, protesting delayed subsidy payments, low producer prices and rising costs, with olive oil growers among the hardest hit.
Dec. 18, 2025
Spanish Olive Oil Exports Top One Million Tons as Prices Fall
Spanish olive oil exports exceeded one million metric tons for the first time since 2021/22, driven by a strong harvest, even as export values and prices declined.
Dec. 15, 2025
Young Sicilian Producer Revitalizes Ancient Groves with Innovation
A third-generation producer in western Sicily is combining family tradition, scientific training and innovative farming practices to produce award-winning olive oil while adapting to climate change.
Dec. 8, 2025
Extreme Weather Ravages Olive Groves Across Greece, Undermining 2025 Output
Hailstorms of unusual intensity have devastated olive farms across Greece, leaving producers facing severe losses in a year already marked by climate and pest pressures.
Dec. 8, 2025
Italy Warns of Rising Fraud and Violence Amid High Olive Oil Prices
Italian authorities seized more than 14,000 liters of untraced extra virgin olive oil in Puglia and reported armed thefts of additional shipments, underscoring a spike in fraud and criminal activity fueled by high market prices.
Dec. 5, 2025
Tuscia Producer Builds a Legacy of Award-Winning Organic Oils
On the hills above Lake Bolsena, Alessandra Nicolai has transformed her family’s land into a model of organic farming, producing the award-winning A1980 extra virgin olive oil and expanding into natural wines.
Dec. 4, 2025
Italian Geographical Indications See Record Growth, Driven by Olive Oil and Wine
Italy’s certified food sector reached €20.7 billion in 2024, with PDO and PGI olive oils posting record gains as exports and retail demand climbed.