IOC representatives visit the olive groves of Toledo

This week, Madrid hosted the plenary session of the International Olive Oil Council. On this occasion, the Advisory Committee on Olive Oil and Table Olives, which brings together all branches of the olive oil sector (producers, processors, traders and consumers) of the 22 members of this UN organisation (21 countries plus the European Union, with its 27 member states, making a total of 48 countries), also met previously, traders and consumers) of the 22 members of this UN organisation (21 countries plus the European Union, with its 27 member states, making a total of 48 countries). Some thirty members, representing a large number of olive oil producing countries from all over the world, visited the olive oil producing areas of Toledo, at the invitation of Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva Español and the Fundación Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero.

The delegation was able to see the enormous diversity of the Spanish olive oil model, from the olive grove itself, where the different types of olive groves coexist in complete harmony, as in the case of the company Oleo Quirós in the town of Mascara, which is an example of the commitment of part of the sector to a niche market, that of algae-range oils, which barely existed in this region just two decades ago. In fact, this company exemplifies the commitment of part of the sector to a niche market, that of algae-range oils, which barely existed in this region two decades ago. The delegation was also able to learn about the cooperative model, fundamental in the development of this sector in Spain, during a visit to the Cooperativa Nuestra Señora de la Antigua de Mora, one of the most important olive oil mills in the whole of Castilla-La Mancha, with a very long history. ‘All of this has given the members of this committee a global vision of the leadership of the Spanish olive oil sector,’ Teresa Pérez, manager of Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva Español, assures us.

Finally, they visited the Felipe Vegue Museum of the Fundación Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero in Mora, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. There they attended a tasting of extra virgin olive oils of the Cornicabra variety from the Montes de Toledo Designation of Origin. Iñaki Benito, managing director of the Fundación Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero, says that the visit to these facilities was the icing on the cake for this day: ‘I think it has served to close the circle. We have seen the harvesting and the production of the product in an oil mill. We also saw a large, modern warehouse with tanks for the oils and I think it was time to visit the Heritage facilities to see the more cultural and historical part and to demonstrate the Spanish olive-growing tradition and its impressive evolution’. A visit that, in the opinion of Joseph R. Profaci, executive director of the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), was a complete success: ‘It is clear that Spain is a world leader in the sector without any doubt. When you visit a facility, an olive mill, you can feel the passion of the people for the product. It has been a great experience’.

Concern for the US market

But if there was one thing that all the members of the visit, and in particular the representatives of the sector at European level, shared, it was their concern for the future of the United States market, which is on its way to becoming the world's leading consumer of olive oil. The manager of Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva Español advocated avoiding any kind of trade barrier: ‘Anything that could hinder marketing is seen as an obstacle that we have to fight against and try to avoid. The future of the United States as the main consumer country outside the Mediterranean area is of concern’.

Mariana Matos, Secretary General of Casa do Azeite de Portugal and new Secretary General of the Federation of Olive Oil Industries of the European Union (FEDOLIVE), confirms that the whole association is concerned about what this could mean for the recovery of the markets after two very difficult years: ‘Anything that could hinder free world trade is negative, especially at this time when we have to recover the market and not hinder its development’.

Joseph R. Profaci, executive director of the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), was cautiously optimistic about the evolution of the market: ‘The current situation of olive oil consumption in the United States is really strong, I am optimistic that it will continue to grow. The new administration that is about to start seems to be setting a policy and trade tactics that could lead to tariffs.Whatever their policy is, we (NAOOA) are going to work with the government and we are going to make sure that the olive oil market in the US continues to grow. Americans have fallen in love with olive oil and this is something that will last for a long, long time’.

The visit was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the IOC, and Globalcaja, Caja Rural de Jaén, Caja Rural del Sur, Caja Rural Granada and Caja Rural de Extremadura.