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Πέμπτη, 07 Μαρτίου 2019 21:32

Sector official says Greek olive oil production to drop to 140K tons in 2019

Initial estimates so far warn of a noteworthy reduction in Greece's olive oil production in the forthcoming harvest season, with some regions' yield expected drop by 50 percent, compared to last season.

Initial estimates so far warn of a noteworthy reduction in Greece's olive oil production in the forthcoming harvest season, with some regions' yield expected drop by 50 percent, compared to last season.

According to the president of a national association of olive oil exporters, Grigoris Antoniadis, this year's production in Greece will hover at 140,000 tons.

He attributed the forecasted year-on-year reduction to inclement weather - i.e. heavy rainfall - and the average age of crop-bearing olive trees.

"When production is up one year, and down the next, the reason is the tree's output capacity... a tree cannot produce successive good harvests," he said.

Finally, producers have complained of inadequate measures to combat the Xylella Fastidiosa bacteria that attacks olive oil trees.