Ralda+Friends’ 2015-2016 production exceeds 3.700 kg

Between 16 November 2015 and 3 February, with the support of our friend Victor, we have collected from our plantations of “La Plana”, “La Serra” and “La Barranquera” 18.666 kg of olives, which led to a net production of 3.771 kg of olive oil. These results allow us to propose again our three olive oils varieties: the “classical” Extra Virgin Oilve Oil, the special Extra Virgin Ralda+Friends D.O.P. (olive oil made exclusively with the three olive varieties that are native to the Baix Ebre-Montsia region: Farga, Morruda and Sevillenca) and our unique Single Variety Morruda Ralda+Friends DOP.

Our production has been lower than last year for two reasons. A lack of rain coincided with the fact that this year we knew in advance that our olive trees were going to produce less olives. Why? Because the olive trees have a dual production process: one season of high production is always followed by a season of low production. Nevertheless our performance rate was good (20,20%) and our olives crop was excellent and that made an olive oil of an unbeatable quality that have been bottled last January and is now available for our friends and adopters in our online shop.

Everyday more countries are consuming olive oil

This information reminds us of a recent study of the GEA Iberia Corporation, indicating that the consumption of olive oil in 2016 has already reached 169 countries on five continents. The Spanish daily El Economista has echoed this study, saying that the growth in the consumption of olive oil at global level has been 6.4% in the last ten years, while the total production has increased by 3.3%.

Olive oil-producing countries consumed 80% of the total production, although the demand for non-producing countries is growing. United States is the largest consumer of olive oil outside the Mediterranean area, with an annual growth of 22%. Countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan or China, have shown yearly growths up to 200%.

However, something curious happens in Spain: 60% of the national production is exported as El Mundo newspaper indicated on it article “Spanish olive runs out of provisions” by Raquel Villaécija.  This news piece explains that this year’s drought has brought a shorter harvest than other years, but of a better quality. That makes the international markets more willing to access this production.

Carpe Diem

Alfredo & “Pierre” RALDA