“As a producer, I would also like it if the olives were paid between 110 and 130 euros per quintal. But I am also an oil mill operator and I know well that if I buy olives at that price and add the processing and packaging costs, I would have to sell the cheapest oil for no less than 15 euros per litre. Price that the consumer is absolutely not willing to pay.”
Stephen Caroli (in the picture), president of the Association of Oil Mill Workers of Puglia, yesterday brought together the scientific committee together with representatives of the Aifo (Italian Association of oil millers), of the Mastri Oleari Association, of Cna and teachers of the two Universities of Bari to discuss the new olive oil campaign and analyze production and costs.
What emerged from the discussion, President Caroli?
“First of all, that in Puglia the production we will have this year will be good. Not as extraordinary as in a year of full force, but certainly of a more than positive level, not even remotely comparable to the disastrous one last year, when a good part of the mills hadn't even opened".
First lack of rain, then hailstorms: did they affect the quality and quantity of olives?
“The rain was blessed, certainly where it hailted heavily the damage was significant. But I must say that fortunately in general the rainfall was significant in anticipation of the harvest."
Speaking of collection, how are we progressing?
“There are those who started it. And even the first oil mills started up. Everyone will leave in October."
A thorny issue is the question of prices, especially after the president of Unapol went unbalanced on a range ranging from 110 to 130 euros per quintal. What do you think?
"We talked about it. In our opinion these are unsustainable prices. There is the risk that no one will buy them and the producers will then be forced to turn to cooperatives to sell them off."
Well, it must be recognized that olive growers have been experiencing higher production costs for a couple of years...
“Definitely yes, I am a producer myself and I realize it. But if I buy olives above 110 euros per quintal, this alone would force me to sell the oil for 9 euros. If we then add the expenses that the mill operator has to turn on the mills, to pay the staff, for the packaging and the sales network, we are at values that are completely out of reach of the consumer. Because we are talking about a minimum of 15 euros per litre. And in a phase of high inflation, increased shopping cart costs and salaries and pensions that do not grow, we risk that the average family will give up olive oil for other vegetable oils of lower economic value".
What price would you suggest?
“Look, I think that already 90 euros per quintal would be an excellent price for olives. And I'm talking about good quality olives. I know that by saying this I will disappoint the expectations of those who thought they would get better prices. But here we must understand: if we sell olive oil at prices that consumers cannot afford, we will lose them definitively. And winning them back tomorrow will be really hard. A problem that does not only concern oil millers, but the entire supply chain: from olive producers to the oil industry, up to large-scale distribution".
