ICCA wants to boost the production of olive oil in Canary.

THIS WEDNESDAY AND UNTIL SATURDAY, TRAINING DAYS WILL BE HELD IN TENERIFE.

The Canarian Institute of Food Quality (ICCA) wants to promote high-quality production of virgin olive oil on the islands, as is already the case with wine and cheeses, and to contribute to this, it has scheduled some training sessions for farmers that will be held this week in the municipality of Arico, in Tenerife.

The cultivation of the olive tree has a history on the islands since the 15th century and has traditionally been used for the consumption of olives., but the greatest interest is now focused on its use to obtain virgin olive oil, Sulbey González said in the presentation of these conferences, ICCA director.

The annual production on the islands is 50.000 liters, which is concentrated in municipal and private oil mills in places like Agüimes, Wit, St. lucia, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Themisas and Arico, besides Fuerteventura.

Precisely in Arico, where a pilot project for the production of oil is developed, These days will be celebrated between 10 and the 13 November.

The manager of the Regulatory Council of the Abona Denomination of Origin, Manuel Rodríguez, highlighted the environmental interest of olive cultivation in medium-sized areas, for its potential for the recovery of abandoned lands subject to erosion..

The olive tree requires little water and little labor, and that is why it is an ideal crop both to complement farmers' income and to be their main source of income., Rodriguez said.

In Arico and Güímar, The Cumbres de Abona Cooperative is experimenting with varieties highly adapted to arid conditions and water scarcity and already has some 40.000 olive trees.

At the III Canary Islands Olive Grove Conference it will bring together researchers, olive growers and olive oil producers of the Peninsula and the Canary Islands, who will offer training and advice to farmers and technicians on the islands on the care of this crop.

Inter alia, The general secretary of the Baena designation of origin will be present (Cordoba), Jose Manuel Bajos, the researcher of the Ifapa of Córdoba Lorenzo León, and the olive grower and oil producer José María Onieva, also from Baena.

Those attending the meeting, which will be held at the headquarters of the Regulatory Council of the Abona Denomination of Origin, They will be able to participate in commented tastings and workshops on making soaps with oil., as well as attend a guided tour of the Arico experimental field and an olive pressing demonstration.