Croatian Producer Turns Abandoned Land Into Award-Winning Farm

An award at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition validated years of work restoring neglected groves and reviving abandoned land by the family behind Croatia’s OPG Nikolic farm.

“This new chapter in our family’s olive oil-making history began six years ago, when my father-in-law bought three hectares of land near Šibenik, in a small village called Ražanj,” Mladena Nikolic, who manages marketing and sales, told Olive Oil Times.

We want people to understand where high-quality olive oil comes from and how much work and passion are behind it.– Mladena Nikolic, OPG Nikolic

“In the past, villages here were full of life. People cultivated olives, vegetables and raised animals. Later, many people moved closer to the coast and some of that land was left behind,” she added.

By restoring old groves on neglected land and planting new trees alongside existing ones, the family steadily increased both production and quality.

“There were maybe 30 very old trees on the property,” Nikolic said. “Everything else was in very bad condition. Our whole family started working together to bring the land back to life. Before that, we had olive trees, but in smaller quantities.”

Located in the rugged Dalmatian landscape near Croatia’s Adriatic coast, the farm adopted a hands-on approach focused on constant grove management, careful pruning and organic fertilization. The operation also integrated animals such as ponies, donkeys and chickens into the fields, creating what Nikolic described as a natural cycle between animals, land and olive cultivation.

“We wanted a place outside the city where we could really live close to nature,” Nikolic said. “At first everything was just for us and our family. Later, when production increased, we started selling small quantities.”

Today, OPG Nikolic cultivates around 1,000 olive trees, primarily the native Oblica variety. The family harvests all olives manually, avoiding heavy machinery in the groves.

The recognition in New York arrived despite, or perhaps because of, the farm’s insistence on maintaining a highly manual and family-centered approach.

“Last year we harvested around 25 tons, completely with family members,” Nikolic said. “Around 15 of us worked together for nearly a month. Everything is done by hand because we do not want to damage the trees.”

The family’s success at the NYIOOC mirrored the extraordinary performances of Croatian producers in New York. According to Nikolic, the philosophy behind many Croatian producers remains deeply local and family-oriented.

“Most of us in Croatia first produce olive oil for our own families and only later for the market,” she said. “That changes the mentality completely because quality comes first.”

The groves sit within the rocky terrain typical of Dalmatia, where olive trees have adapted over centuries to harsh conditions, dry summers and thin soils.

“When it comes to quality, the land is crucial,” Nikolic said. “We have excellent conditions for olive growing. The stones, the climate and the long sunny periods are ideal for olives.”

Oblica, the dominant variety grown by the farm, is especially well-suited to those conditions.

“The fruits are large, which makes hand harvesting easier,” she said. “The trees are strong, adaptable and relatively resistant to disease. At the same time, the olive oil has a beautiful flavor profile.”

The family also cultivates fewer Lastovka trees, another traditional Croatian variety known for producing distinctive oils.

“The fruits are smaller and harvesting them manually is much more demanding,” Nikolic said. “But they produce excellent olive oil.”

While Croatian producers have earned growing international recognition in recent years, Nikolic believes the country’s strength lies in the fact that many operations remain small and highly focused on quality.

“Many producers are still working traditionally and manually,” she said. “People really care about what they produce.”

That commitment has become increasingly challenging as climate change intensifies across the Mediterranean.

“Climate change is one of the biggest problems today,” Nikolic said. “The seasons have become unpredictable. Sometimes spring temperatures rise too quickly and then suddenly drop again. Wind, heat and cold periods can all affect production.”

Summer heat has also increased pressure on irrigation and tree management.

“In summer we pay special attention to irrigation and tree health because it can become extremely hot,” she said.

Labor shortages present another growing challenge.

“It is becoming harder to find people willing to do this kind of physical work by hand, especially during harvest,” Nikolic said.

For now, the family continues to rely largely on relatives and close community members to manage the demanding harvest season.

At the same time, the operation is gradually expanding beyond olive oil production itself. This year, OPG Nikolic began organizing family visits and workshops to introduce visitors to traditional Dalmatian rural life and olive cultivation.

“We want people to understand where high-quality olive oil comes from and how much work and passion are behind it,” Nikolic said.

Visitors can walk through the groves, meet the animals on the ranch, taste the oils and experience the slower rhythm of Dalmatian rural life.

The initiative reflects a broader movement among Croatian producers seeking to connect premium olive oil with rural tourism and cultural heritage.

Despite the international recognition, Nikolic said the family is not pursuing rapid expansion or industrial-scale production.

“Our priority is to maintain quality,” she said. “People return every year because they trust us and appreciate what we do.”

That trust, she added, remains central to the farm’s identity.

“Customers buy directly from us because they trust the way we work and the quality of what we produce,” Nikolic said. “Once you lose that trust, it is very difficult to recover it.”

The future of the family farm is also becoming increasingly tied to the next generation.

“My husband and I are learning from the older generation. It is amazing to see how our two sons are growing up connected to the farm and olive groves,” Nikolic concluded.