Olive harvesting is a centuries-old tradition in Portugal, celebrated as much for the rich, golden oil it produces as for the care and expertise involved in the process. At G-Agri, we prioritize quality over quantity by following traditional methods, hand-harvesting our olives to produce exceptional organic olive oil. Let’s explore the difference between hand harvesting and using modern mechanical shakers, as well as why we choose the artisanal path.

The Olive Harvest Season in Portugal

In Portugal, olive season typically runs from late October to December. This period is a time-honored occasion where farmers and workers come together to gather the year’s harvest, marking the transition from olive fruit to oil. Traditional Portuguese harvesting involves hand-picking the olives directly from the branches, ensuring the fruit remains intact and free from damage. This careful approach maintains the quality and taste that make Portuguese olive oil highly sought after worldwide.

Hand Harvesting: The Traditional Approach

Hand harvesting is a meticulous process that involves carefully selecting and collecting olives from the tree. At G-Agri, we use a combination of small rakes and handheld shakers to aid in the process, ensuring that each olive is picked at its optimal ripeness without harming the tree or fruit. The use of rakes allows us to reach olives nestled high in the branches, while the handheld shakers offer a gentle, effective way to release olives without disrupting the tree’s natural growth.

Advantages of Hand Harvesting

1. Preserves Fruit Integrity: Hand-picking minimizes bruising and damage, which can affect the flavor and acidity of the oil. This gentle approach results in high-quality olives that yield a purer, smoother oil.
2. Selective Picking: Hand harvesting allows for selective picking, so only the best, ripest olives are chosen. This attention to detail enhances the flavor profile of the final product.
3. Sustainable Practice: By choosing hand tools over heavy machinery, we reduce our impact on the environment. It’s a low-impact, eco-friendly method that supports our commitment to sustainability.
4. Enhanced Taste and Quality: The control we have during hand harvesting directly impacts the oil’s quality, creating an olive oil that is rich, flavorful, and free from contaminants often introduced in machine processing.

Harvesting with Tree Shakers

Mechanical tree shakers are often used on larger-scale farms where efficiency and speed are prioritized. This method involves attaching a machine to the trunk or branches of the olive tree, which shakes the tree to dislodge the olives. While faster, this method can be aggressive, causing damage to the tree and occasionally resulting in bruised fruit, which can alter the oil’s flavor and quality.

Advantages and Limitations of Tree Shaking

1. Speed and Efficiency: Shakers are ideal for large-scale operations, enabling rapid harvesting across hundreds of trees in a short time.
2. Labor Reduction: Mechanical harvesters require fewer people, lowering labor costs for larger farms.
3. Quality Impact: However, this method can damage olives, introducing minor bruising and altering the final taste. The shaking can also harm branches, impacting the tree’s ability to bear fruit in future seasons.

Why G-Agri Chooses Hand Harvesting

At G-Agri, we value the tradition and quality that come from hand-picking our olives. This commitment to quality and sustainability ensures that our olive oil remains true to its roots, capturing the full richness of the Alentejo region. By using a combination of rakes and handheld shakers, we’re able to provide a premium, traditionally crafted product that preserves the taste and purity of each olive.

In addition to respecting the heritage of Portuguese olive oil production, hand-harvesting aligns with our dedication to sustainability. Our trees and soil remain undisturbed, allowing the ecosystem to thrive while yielding some of the finest olive oil in Portugal.

The G-Agri Difference: Tradition Meets Sustainability

By hand-picking our olives, we not only honor a time-tested tradition but also ensure our olive oil is of the highest quality. Each bottle of G-Agri olive oil reflects the care, expertise, and dedication that go into every step of our production process—from hand-selecting each olive to gently pressing them for a pure, aromatic oil. Supporting G-Agri means supporting sustainable, traditional farming methods that prioritize both the land and the quality of what’s produced.

In every drop, you’ll taste the unique character of Alentejo—its rich soil, sunny climate, and the care we put into every olive harvested by hand.