Tree sponsorship - Olive tree pruning - Toleo Halkidiki Olive Grove
- Dimitrios Keksitsis
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
Tree pruning in Metaggitsi: The secret of the Galano olive
Anyone hiking through the rolling hills of Metaggitsi will see them everywhere: the characteristic Galano olive groves. To ensure that Galano Extra Virgin Olive Oil retains its world-renowned quality with its peppery aftertaste, the year begins for the farmers in Metaggitsi with precise pruning.
Toleo Tradition: The cut for premium oil
Unlike table olives, where the size of the individual fruit is important, in Metaggitsi olives the focus is on oil quality. Harvesting usually takes place between the end of February and April, as soon as the frosty nights in Halkidiki are over.
The 3 golden rules of cutting in Metaggitsi:
Light for photosynthesis: The crown is thinned out so that sunlight penetrates to the interior. In Metaggitsi, it is often said that the light truly "awakens" the polyphenols and aroma of the Galano olive.
Promoting Strogylolia branches: Since the Strogylolia variety makes up the majority (90%), farmers take care to preserve young, fruit-bearing branches and consistently remove old, woody material to minimize biennial bearing (fluctuating yields).
Preparing for hand-harvesting: In Metaggitsi, the olives for Galano oil are often harvested by hand in October, before they turn black. Pruning keeps the trees at a height that allows for this gentle harvesting, preventing damage to the fruit.
Conclusion: The cut of the Galano olive in Metaggitsi is the basis for an oil that impresses with its low acidity and intense aroma.
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