News Briefs

Apr. 14, 2026

Heart Association’s New Guidance Recommends Olive Oil and Other Unsaturated Fats

The American Heart Association’s new dietary guidance recommends olive oil and other unsaturated fats as part of long-term eating patterns aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease risk.

Mar. 31, 2026

NYIOOC Unveils Marketplace for Fresh, Award-Winning Olive Oils

The new NYIOOC Marketplace at oliveoilshop.com features only current-year winners of the World Olive Oil Competition, sold by producers and authorized distributors in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Mar. 30, 2026

Trade Agreements Extend Europe’s Food Quality Rules Beyond Its Borders

By embedding geographical indications into major trade agreements, the European Union is extending a regulatory model that ties food quality to origin, production methods and traceability.

Mar. 30, 2026

Sommelier Program Returns to New York for 10th Edition

The Olive Oil Times Education Lab’s Sommelier Certificate Program is returning to New York’s Flatiron District for its 10th annual edition, marking a milestone for one of the sector’s most established educational offerings.

Mar. 26, 2026

Organic Olive Oil Remains Small Share of Spain’s Growing Organic Food Market

A new Ecovalia report shows organic olive oil remains a small part of organic food spending in Spain, even as the country’s overall organic market continues to expand.

Mar. 26, 2026

Twenty-Eight New Olive Oil Sommeliers Certified in London

Twenty-eight participants from diverse professional backgrounds completed the Olive Oil Times Sommelier Certificate Program in London after five days of instruction in sensory analysis, production, quality and evaluation.

Mar. 5, 2026

Food Safety Authority Seeks Public Input as EU Reassesses Xylella Fastidiosa Control Options

A sweeping assessment of studies across the EU concludes there is no field-ready cure for Xylella fastidiosa, as regulators consider updates to surveillance and containment.

Mar. 3, 2026

EU-India Trade Pact Could Lower Barriers for Greek Olive Oil Exports

A new EU-India free trade agreement could phase out India’s steep olive oil import duties over five years, potentially narrowing the price gap for consumers.

Feb. 23, 2026

Orthodox Monastery Earns Three Gold Awards at NYIOOC for Bosnia and Herzegovina

A Serbian Orthodox monastery in southern Herzegovina won three Gold Awards at the NYIOOC, adding to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s growing list of recognitions at the world’s largest olive oil quality contest.

Feb. 10, 2026

Weeks of Rain and Flooding Slow Spain’s Olive Harvest, Threatening Output Targets

Spain’s olive harvest has been disrupted by weeks of rain and storms, prompting AEMO to trim its 2025/26 production outlook to about 1.2 million tons and warn of a lower share of extra virgin olive oil.

Feb. 6, 2026

Morocco’s Olive Harvest Races Ahead as Rain, Cold and Labor Shortages Tighten the Window

Moroccan growers are accelerating the harvest after a delayed start and weeks of rain and cold. Labor shortages and higher wages are squeezing timelines even as extraction rates rise and retail olive oil prices fall.

Feb. 6, 2026

European Table Olive Groups Push Back on EU-Mercosur Tariff Terms

Spanish, Italian and Greek table olive associations say EU-Mercosur terms would phase out duties on Mercosur olives entering Europe while leaving tariffs on European exports to South America in place.

Feb. 4, 2026

Jordan Expands Tunisian Olive Oil Imports as Drought Squeezes Local Supply

Jordan has approved imports of 10,000 tons of Tunisian olive oil as the country faces sharply reduced production following prolonged drought.

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Dec. 29, 2025

Pakistan’s Olive Gala Signals Growth of a Young Sector

With more than 25,000 visitors, Olive Gala 2025 showcased growing consumer interest, expanding cultivation and rising confidence in Pakistan’s olive oil sector.

Dec. 29, 2025

High-Density Olive Groves Shown to Capture More Carbon Than Traditional Plantings

New research from Spain shows that high-density olive groves capture significantly more carbon dioxide per hectare than traditional plantings, highlighting olive farming’s potential role in climate mitigation.

Dec. 26, 2025

Cobram Estate to Acquire California Olive Ranch in $173.5 Million Deal

The deal will more than double Cobram Estate’s California olive groves and expand its U.S. market presence, while raising concerns about industry consolidation.

Dec. 19, 2025

Heat, Drought and Rising Costs Drive Down Portugal’s Olive Harvest

Official estimates point to a 20 percent decline in Portugal’s olive harvest, with uneven yields across regions and mounting pressure on traditional producers.

Dec. 19, 2025

Greek Farmers Block Roads Over Delayed Subsidies and Low Olive Oil Prices

Greek farmers blocked motorways and border crossings nationwide, protesting delayed subsidy payments, low producer prices and rising costs, with olive oil growers among the hardest hit.

Dec. 18, 2025

Hiroshima Receives Olive Tree from Italy as Symbol of Peace on 80th Anniversary

An olive tree donated by Italy’s Città dell’Olio was planted in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, renewing a decades-long commitment to peace and solidarity between the two countries.

Dec. 18, 2025

World Nears 1.5°C Threshold as Three-Year Heat Streak Confirms Climate Shift

New data from Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service show global temperatures over the past three years have exceeded the 1.5°C threshold, underscoring that record heat is no longer a short-term anomaly.

Dec. 18, 2025

France Casts Doubt on E.U.-Mercosur Trade Deal as Farmers Push Back

France has called the E.U.-Mercosur trade agreement “incomplete,��� raising new doubts about the long-negotiated deal as farmers across Europe warn of unfair competition from South America.

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