Editorial

A Refuge in Time of Crisis

For the past year, we have heard the word “crisis” bantered around in the press, in reference to the financial crisis, the housing slump, job losses, etc. Evidently, the glory days of huge sums of money moving from one sector to the other are over. The agriculture sector, however, appears to have weathered the storm better. For better or for worse, agriculture is not a place where one becomes rich over night, but neither is it a place that suffers the huge downturns that other sectors do. True, we have our issues regarding the use of water, but the land’s value remains the same or increases only slightly, and the crops value, remains relatively consistent as well. Fortunately, the super high-density (SHD) sector has been growing rapidly throughout this past year’s economic crisis. Are the olive orchards a place to take refuge from these stormy times? Are current cultivation techniques truly worth their value? Given SHD’s efficient use of the land and water, its proven record of a good return to the grower, as well as an increasing demand for quality extra virgin olive oil, we believe that the answer is “yes” to both these questions. Super high-density olive orchards offer a sound and economic alternative to an economic downturn that has affected other sectors.

That is why, in this edition, we offer reliable information on the cultivation of SHD olive trees, the harvesting of olives, and the production of high quality olive oil. For example, we explore the possibilities of foliar diagnoses as a guide to olive fertilization, ways to deal with salinity in olive groves, and water management in the orchard for maximizing yields and oil quality. Without taking our eyes off the steps we must take in the field for maximum yield and quality, we dive into efficiencies at the mill as well as some improvements to olive harvesting equipment. Also, in this edition, we go out into the field to observe in detail the different states of the olive from the bud to its full development. Because of its efficiency, production of high quality extra virgin olive oil, good return on investment and increasing consumer demand, we believe the SHD olive sector can be a refuge during these stormy times.
 

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