Industry

Olive cultivation dates back more than 6,000 years and it is still flourishing today, not only in its countries of origin, but now in other areas of the world. Olive products are an internationally traded commodity of substantial proportions.

Olives are one of the last horticultural crops to be modernised through mechanisation and improved horticultural practices. This process has been very protracted because of the embedded tradition and entwined culture of the Mediterranean. Countries such as Australia , Argentina and South Africa , not restricted by traditional production methods, are now planting large areas of olives using modern horticultural practises and mechanisation.