26 May 2025, 13:45
Juan José Mercado Gavilán
Seguimiento
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Olive grove monitoring May 2025: Ground cover in the olive grove, flowering, and olive fruit set.

Just when we had almost lost faith in the rains that have been so lacking in previous years, we were surprised by a very rainy March. Although Jaén has not been the province that has benefited the most in terms of rainfall, we have to say that March has been much better in terms of rainfall than in previous years, which have been affected by the continuous drought.

As many of you know, since 2024 all our olive groves have been certified organic. Therefore, all our EVOOs (Extra Virgin Olive Oils) are obtained from organic olive groves, from organic olives, and consequently our olive oils are organic. All our olive groves are traditional and treated in a way that respects nature and the environment, FREE of synthetic chemicals and pesticides. We are aware that the health of our body begins with the care of the environment that produces the food we eat.

The vegetation cover on our olive trees is becoming more established and taking on an aspect similar to that of a pasture. The rains that have taken place have greatly helped its proliferation. After the development of this cover, it is time to clear and create a herbaceous layer (grass) to protect the soil in the summer, which will act like a hat against the summer sun's rays (a sunscreen).

Every year, we use both natural means (livestock) and mechanical means to control the vegetation cover at the time when the olives are setting. In the case of this year, we have only been able to do this with mechanical means. The availability of shepherds is becoming increasingly difficult, so we are considering other natural solutions, which we are already working on, for the following years.

After contacting more than 4 sheep farmers, none of them were able to come with their livestock to our olive groves due to lack of personnel to carry out this work. This is sad, but that is what we have today. There is more and more talk of "empty Spain"... and unfortunately it is a reality that accompanies us because we do not take care of a primary sector that is deteriorating and being forgotten more and more every day.

As a result of the generous rains received, and apart from the development of the plant and the plant cover, sampling and flowering have been quite positive. Although the sample is somewhat uneven according to areas and olive trees, flowering has been abundant and, if there are no changes, could lead to a good harvest in the future.

Example of an organic olive tree with a large sample, already starting to open:

We also review the evolution of the wild olive trees and the development of their fruit. We observe in the same way the benefit caused by the rainwater in March: they overflow with health and quantity of specimens. An olive tree that, without being cared for like a conventional one, shows its unequalled strength and vigour. Here we have one of the specimens that we will later harvest to obtain our acebuchina oil, so highly valued for its qualities in the prevention of illnesses, such as cancer (according to qualified doctors).

Photographs taken on 5 May 2025.

Photo taken on 27 April 2025, showing part of the exhibition closed and another opening.

With regard to our organic olive grove, at the end of April we started to see the first flowers opening. Not only have we had a rainy environment these last few months, but we have also been accompanied by very pleasant cool temperatures for these dates. This has meant that the olive tree has been holding back the development of its fruit.

By 6 May, much of the blossom has already opened and we can see the small olives of our organic olive groves housed in what we call "casillas". These olives are the ones that will later provide us with the high quality Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil that so many of our customers appreciate.

Mergaoliva oils not only stand out for their organoleptic connotations, but also for their high content in polyphenols (antioxidants), a consequence of a very careful care of the whole olive grove environment, carrying out natural and organic treatments. Our olive groves are free of pesticides and synthetic chemical treatments. The contribution of natural microorganisms makes the plant (the olive tree) capable of assimilating and dosing the nutrients provided by the soil. We are already preparing the "mother" for the incorporation of these micro-organisms over the next few months. They can be applied to both the leaf and the soil, although in this case they will be added to the irrigation water.

Everything natural that we currently give to our olive grove, it will give it back to us in the form of health, deposited in the organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Generally, the setting has been quite good and on the dates we are counting all this (26th May 2025) the fruit (the olive) is already reaching a considerable size. Very soon, in June, it will be time for the stone to form.

As every year, it will be necessary to wait patiently for the passing months and their meteorological ups and downs to finally see if the olive tree arrives victorious, with its olives, for the new season. Given the trajectory of this tree of the gods, it is sure to come to a successful conclusion.

Let us never forget Columella's famous phrase: "Olea prima omnium arboreum est"... "The olive tree is the first of all trees". This shows the admiration that this philosopher, military man and agronomist writer had for the olive tree.

And since I have already mentioned Columela, I would like to end this article by echoing some of his recommendations for quality in the production of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Let us remember that the author lived in the 1st century AD and was born in what is now Cadiz during the period of the Roman Empire.

The Mergaoliva family consider ourselves humble followers and apprentices of this "ecologist" philosopher of the fields of yesterday and today.

Here are some of Columella's phrases or sentences, which need little further explanation:

-- By delaying harvesting too long, the oils lack the pleasant aroma reminiscent of the fruit".

-- Olives that have fallen because worms have gnawed them or storms and rains have thrown them to the ground, are not good for making oil to eat".

-- As soon as the olives change colour, and there are already some black olives among many white ones, they should be picked by hand on a calm day, sieved and cleaned, and carefully taken to the mill".

-- The fruit that is picked every day, to be ground and pressed at once".

Juan José Mercado Gavilán

Lahiguera a 26 de mayo de 2025.