Olive picking or raccolto dell'oliva at Villa Baldaccini

I stated I would reveal the outcome of this year's olive harvest at Renzo Baldacinni's villa and as predicted, it was a poor year for olives in Lucca. Adverse conditions, wet weather during the summer and the prevalence of the olive fly, meant that the gathering of the olives lasted only eight days compared to last year's 20. I helped on the 21st and the last day the 22nd October when about the same weight olives (about 600kg) was collected that represented one day’s picking. Normally the picking does not start until November but this year with the weather sunny and still warm it was all over by late October.

Talking to other local producers at Fulvio Lenzi’s frantoio in San Gennaro they all agreed it was a poor year and that some producers were not even bothering to collect any olives at all. In the Italian way, this year’s outcome was met with the usual shrug of the shoulders in the knowledge that agriculture and nature is always unpredictable.

Last year Renzo’s olives produced about 1400 litres of the highest quality oil but this year the amount was about 60% down equating to about 550 litres. Tasting the oil as it came out of the separator and into his stainless steel containers, Renzo was initially happy with the quality which for him is much more important than quantity.

Renzo was reasonably satisfied with the fact that he has produced just enough oil of high quality for his own personal use, gifts for a few friends and sales to one or two enoteche and local ristorante that will sell, use and appreciate his oil. 

In February early next year we look forward to the show, exhibition and analysis of many producers of local oil in Lucca and other parts of Italy where the olive oil will be enthusiastically tasted, judged and discussed at great length.

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