Garda Dop Olive Oil, 2015 harvest is promising

Claudio Andrizzi
Written by Claudio Andrizzi

After a very difficult 2014, the olive trees of Lake Garda seem in the process of recovery: the conditions for the 2015 olive harvest 2015, which will start in mid-October, are actually positive as confirmed by Andrea Bertazzi, president of the Consorzio Garda Dop which has about 500 members among olive growers, millers and bottlers.

“The situation of the Garda olive grove is definitely a improving over last year – explains Bertazzi -. We don’t in truth expect a particulary abundant harvest, as the olive follows an alternate cycle in term of quantities and 2015 will be a year of low production. Surely, however, the expectations are positive with regard to quality: the general health situation currently looks great anywhere thanks to the absence of olive fly attacks, which have been decreasing thanks to the very hot weather and lack of rain in recent weeks. ”

In 2014, adverse weather conditions, with great abundance of rainfall and temperatures well below the seasonal average, caused a real collapse of production, with a decrease of 60-70% compared to average years. “It must be said that after the very tough phase of stress faced last year the plants are now slowly regaining their normal growth cycle – explains Bertezzi -. Certainly if everything goes well this fall our olive groves should return to full and complete recovery  in 2016 “.

The 2015 campaing will bring some major changes to the production doby of rules of Garda Dop olive oil: there will be an increase in the production limits per hectare, and it will no longer be required to quote the sub-origin the product (Bresciano, Trentino, Orientale) on label, as all production of Lake Garda will be able to be united without distinction under the brand Garda Dop.

“We believe this will strengthen the commercial name – explains Bertazzi -. For consumers or foreign tourists the is only one Garda is unique. And our Dop is not only a guarantee of origin and authenticity, but also an important vehicle for promotion of an agricultural tradition that in some areas is now at risk due to the abandonment of olive groves. A danger against which it is necessary to work hard, encouraging forms of private management of olive groves ensuring a precise economic return to farmers, but also a fundamental action of supervision and protection of the territory. “

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