Azienda Agricola Emmanuel Sanarica is redefining olive farming in Puglia, combining research, technology and biodiversity to produce award-winning oils such as Ulivè.
The latest infection of four olive trees marks the northernmost detection of Xylella fastidiosa in Italy’s southern Puglia region.
Farmers and millers from across the country were awarded at a ceremony in Perugia for the best Italian extra virgin olive oils.
Xylella fastidiosa, a deadly bacterium, has been found in an olive tree in Bari, causing concern for the region’s important olive oil industry.
The cultural practice of preserving fresh fruit and vegetables in olive oil has endured for centuries in Puglia and become increasingly popular worldwide.
The Italian olive oil sector hailed the raid as proof that authorities can crack down on olive oil fraud while warning that a lack of consumer awareness allows such crimes to persist.
Officials rebuffed a recent study that implied Xylella fastidiosa was not mainly responsible for the millions of ravaged trees.
The findings could unravel a decade of policy and understanding that Xylella fastidiosa was the leading cause of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome in Puglia.
