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The International Symposium on Olive Oils of Croatia and the Adriatic Coast, organized by Olive Oil Times and the Postira Tourist Board, will take place in Postira in September, featuring workshops, tastings, and expert presentations on olive cultivation and production. The event will highlight the region’s commitment to excellence in olive oil and celebrate the Adriatic region’s growing prominence in the world of extra virgin olive oil.
This September, the coastal town of Postira will welcome olive oil professionals and enthusiasts from around the world for a high-profile gathering celebrating the quality, innovation, and cultural heritage of olive oils from Croatia and its Adriatic neighbors.
The International Symposium on Olive Oils of Croatia and the Adriatic Coast is organized by Olive Oil Times in collaboration with the Postira Tourist Board. The patron is the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. Sponsors of the event include Split-Dalmatia County, the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, the Municipality of Postira, and Jadran Crikvenica d.d.
The symposium will highlight the region’s unwavering commitment to excellence in olive cultivation and production. It begins on Tuesday, September 16, with a welcome reception hosted by Olive Oil Times editor-in-chief Curtis Cord and Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Tonči Glavina. Over the next two days, attendees will engage in a thoughtfully curated program featuring tasting instruction, professional workshops, guided farm visits, expert presentations, and live culinary demonstrations.
Leading instructors and industry experts will explore topics such as premium brand development, sustainable farming practices, and the impact of climate change on olive oil production. Attendees will also enjoy immersive excursions into the olive groves of Brač and gain a firsthand appreciation of the island’s rich agricultural and gastronomic traditions.
The gathering will conclude with a festive closing ceremony honoring producers of excellence and celebrating the Adriatic region’s growing prominence in the world of extra virgin olive oil.
Located on the northern coast of Brač, Postira is a small fishing village with deep agricultural roots and a long-standing connection to olive cultivation. Its surrounding hillsides are lined with centuries-old groves, stone terraces, and traditional architecture that reflect the island’s enduring relationship with the land.
Brač, one of the largest islands in the Adriatic Sea, has long played a central role in Croatia’s olive oil heritage. Its rugged terrain and favorable climate have made it ideal for olive growing, and today the island produces some of the country’s most distinctive extra virgin olive oils.
Fittingly, Postira also hosts the annual World Championship of Olive Picking, a spirited event that honors the region’s traditions and communal ties to the harvest.
By hosting the symposium in Postira, organizers underscore the importance of place in the story of Croatian olive oil — a story shaped by generations of local producers and the unique character of the Dalmatian coast. The symposium will offer a rare opportunity for international collaboration and knowledge sharing in a historic olive-growing region.
Registration is now open at postira.oliveoiltimes.com. Due to limited capacity, early booking is encouraged.
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