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Despite budÂget cuts, Spanish olive oil proÂducÂtion in the Baena region of Córdoba has reached record-breakÂing levÂels, with 270 milÂlion kiloÂgrams of olives colÂlected and over 57 milÂlion kilos of oil proÂduced. The Denomination of Origin Baena has introÂduced an inteÂgrated conÂtrol sysÂtem to ensure the qualÂity of oils sold under the label, and is formÂing an inter-proÂfesÂsional orgaÂniÂzaÂtion to proÂmote olive oil and expand marÂkets both domesÂtiÂcally and interÂnaÂtionÂally.
Despite budÂget cuts and the curÂrent poor finanÂcial cliÂmate, Spanish olive oil proÂducÂtion in the Baena region of Córdoba has reached record-breakÂing levÂels with its last harÂvest. The Denomination of Origin Baena reported colÂlecÂtion of 270 milÂlion kiloÂgrams of olives and over 57 milÂlion kilos of oil, which repÂreÂsents a record harÂvest for the qualÂity label.
After a meetÂing of the regÂuÂlaÂtory counÂcil for the Denomination of Origin (D.O.) last week, presÂiÂdent Francisco Núñez de Prado reported that 250 denomÂiÂnaÂtion samÂples have been subÂmitÂted for offiÂcial tastÂing, repÂreÂsentÂing 12 milÂlion kilos. This comes after the introÂducÂtion of an inteÂgrated conÂtrol sysÂtem by the D.O Baena to assure idenÂtiÂfiÂcaÂtion of bulk oils and to facilÂiÂtate the price and value of oils sold in bulk under the denomÂiÂnaÂtion label.
The past year has seen budÂget cuts for proÂmoÂtion and adverÂtisÂing of prodÂucts under the D.O Baena label, with a 22 perÂcent drop from180,000 Euros to 140,000. However, it is hoped that the deciÂsion made last year by the regÂuÂlaÂtory counÂcil to form an inter-proÂfesÂsional orgaÂniÂzaÂtion of olive oil to repÂreÂsent the extra virÂgin olive oil cerÂtiÂfied with the qualÂity Baena denomÂiÂnaÂtion will help with conÂtinÂuÂing proÂmoÂtion of olive oil.
The forÂmaÂtion of the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion has been supÂported wholeÂheartÂedly by the varÂiÂous municÂiÂpalÂiÂties of the area, with all counÂcils pledgÂing their supÂport in a meetÂing last week. Núñez de Prado explained that the main objecÂtive of this orgaÂniÂzaÂtion was to proÂmote olive oil and expand marÂkets. It is hoped that this supÂportÂive netÂwork will strengthen and increase the presÂence of D.O Baena olive oil in existÂing marÂkets, as well as aid the expanÂsion to new marÂkets.
It is hoped the orgaÂniÂzaÂtion will improve the frameÂwork of the indusÂtry and increase olive oil conÂsumpÂtion and knowlÂedge through conÂtinÂuÂous adapÂtaÂtion of prodÂucts to suit conÂsumer demands, carÂryÂing out proÂmoÂtional camÂpaigns for the improveÂment of olive grove conÂdiÂtions and proÂmotÂing susÂtainÂable develÂopÂment in the agriÂculÂtural food indusÂtry.
Núñez de Prado said that Spain was the priÂmary proÂducer and exporter of olive oil in the world, proÂducÂing oil in such quanÂtiÂties that it was imposÂsiÂble to conÂsume within Spain. Hence it is essenÂtial that money is invested in conÂtinÂuÂing proÂmoÂtion and marÂketÂing of the prodÂuct both throughÂout Spain and interÂnaÂtionÂally.
The proÂducÂtion area for extra virÂgin olive oils with the D.O. Baena label is sitÂuÂated in the south east of Córdoba and includes oils from a numÂber of variÂeties of olives includÂing Picudo (conÂsidÂered to be the main variÂety for the D.O), Hojiblance, Picual, LechÃn, Chorrúa, Jardúa and Pajarero. The oils from this region are known for their high levÂels of linoleic acids.