The freshness and quality of the olives is paramount. Learn how to quickly and effectively harvest and transport your olives and oil.
Picking the olives
Using a handheld fit-for-purpose-rake to assist pulling your olives off your trees is an invaluable timesaver. You may find these listed as forks, hands or rakes when searching for them online. If using something else when you start out, make sure to find something gentle on the fruit so as not to damage your olives. Olives bruise very easily and we will turn you away if we see less than perfect olives, so now is a good time to prepare for a successful harvest.
Boxes and crates
Please note: We do not accept olives stored in bags, cardboard boxes or polystyrene boxes as the olives start sweating very quickly, tainting the flavour of the olives which can ruin a full years harvest if not picked up. Prevention is the best cure.
If you plan to participate in the olive picking project, it may be economical to invest in equipment. This does not have to be expensive. The containers need ventilation on the sides and bottom to prevent olives sweating leading to mould. It will also need to be the right size to cater for your lifting abilities. We encourage you to use durable equipment, so that you are kitted out for generations.
Oil containers
Bring a suitable clean food grade container when picking up your oil. Dirty containers are likely to taint your oil, including containers which were previously used for oil if a bit of old oil is left in the container.
When you drop your olives off, you will be advised approximately how much oil you will be collecting, so please bring a suitable container, with a large opening, that will fit all of your oil.
If you plan to gift your oil, or store it in smaller containers, please decant your oil into your own smaller containers at home.
The following links can assist in searches for containers to suit a range of budgets and sizes.