This article explores how key settings such as the choice between two-phase or three-phase systems and the differential speed (Dn) between the drum and screw directly shape the quality of olive oil.
Learn how olive fruit retention force (FRF) and detachment index (DI) guide ripening, harvest timing, and mechanical efficiency while reducing fruit loss. Fruit retention (or detachment/removal) force is the tensile force needed to separate an olive from its pedicel at the abscission zone (AZ). It’s typically reported in newtons (N) or grams-force (gf) i.e. 1 N ≈ 102 gf. Most gauges measure a direct pull, but torsion and bending also matter in..
Olive trees often swing between heavy and light crops. This article explains why biennial bearing happens and how growers can manage it for steadier harvests.
This summer cropping season is facing unprecedented challenges in fertiliser supply. Availability of MAP fertiliser (monoammonium phosphate) and DAP fertiliser (diammonium phosphate) is expected to remain extremely limited worldwide, with serious implications for growers planning their nutrient programs.
The Australian olive oil industry has experienced rapid growth over the past three decades, evolving into a significant agricultural sector. With rising domestic demand, a strong export presence, and a reputation for high-quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), understanding the distribution of olive trees across the country provides essential insight into production capacity and regional specialisations.
Mechanical trunk shakers have transformed olive harvesting in modern olive groves. A new study: Damping behavior of olive trees under trunk shaking (Ghonimy, Alharbi & Ibrahim, 2025) provides growers with the first detailed breakdown of how vibration energy moves through olive trees and the soil beneath them.
The findings reveal how attachment height, trunk diameter, and the tree-soil interaction determine whether ...
Trunk shakers apply forced vibration at the tree trunk, which propagates through the canopy and detaches ripe olives. However, the success of this process isn't solely dependent on the machine’s frequency or power. The geometry of the tree itself... particularly the inclination angle of its branches... plays a pivotal role in determining how efficiently that vibration moves through the canopy.....
As the world's leading olive oil producer, Spain plays a pivotal role in the global market, contributing around 40-50% of worldwide supply. After a challenging period marked by droughts and extreme temperatures that halved production in recent years, the 2024/2025 harvest signaled a strong recovery. Now, with the 2025/2026 crop year on the horizon, industry experts and producers are optimistic about sustained growth. This article explores the ...
Mechanical tree shakers are the backbone of modern olive and nut harvesting, delivering the high-frequency vibrations needed to detach fruit efficiently. But the same forces that maximise yield also put extreme stress on the machine itself. Without a structured preventive-maintenance program, vibration can quickly loosen fasteners, wear through hydraulic hoses, rub down electrical insulation, and accelerate pump and bearing failure.
The International Olive Council (IOC) has recently updated its trade standard, which sets the world’s benchmark for olive oil quality. These standards are what laboratories and authorities use to decide if an oil is “extra virgin”, “virgin” or “lampante” and whether it can be sold in export markets.
In June 2025, the European Union formally supported a series of major testing changes at the 121st IOC Council of Members meeting. These changes ..
