South African olive producers focus on premium quality products, such as extra virgin olive oil and diversify their product range with value-added olive oil products, such as olive tapenades and skincare.
Olive farming in South Africa is mainly for the production of olive oil, although about two-thirds of South Africa’s oil requirements are imported, mostly from Spain.
The most widely planted olive variety in South Africa is Frantoio, at 749 ha, although the plantings are reducing in favour of other varieties, such as Coratino and FS18. The olive variety Mission is the second most prolific variety in South Africa with 659 ha, which is used for both oil and table olive production.
By Marinda Louw
Olive oil is extracted from the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea), which is native to countries around the Mediterranean Sea....
The olive oil industry is still very small and can only supply in about a third of South Africa’s requirements, yet we export some product...
South Africa produces high quality, but relatively low volumes of olive oil, barely enough to satisfy a third of local demand....
Olives are versatile little fruit, are used to make a variety of value-added products, apart from producing olive oil - the main olive-relat...
Olive oil is produced from whole-pressed olives. Olive trees are naturally found around the Mediterranean area where the winters are mild an...