A delegation of buyers from China visited the Bitonto olive groves on Tuesday 21 May 2024. The delegation was hosted by the OP Oliveti Terra di Bari and Finoliva Global Service. An important initiative, useful for enhancing and promoting the uniqueness of the extra virgin olive oil produced in the area of greatest production for EVO in Puglia.
All the production phases of the supply chain were illustrated to the oriental entrepreneurs, who were able to observe with their own eyes the care and beauty of the Bitonto olive groves, from management of the plant to harvesting and processing. The interest of Chinese buyers is due to the great olive-growing vocation of the area, the extraordinary quality of a flagship Made in Italy product and the Mediterranean diet. The Chinese market is experiencing great growth and expansion. The demand for the highest quality EVO is increasing significantly. The promotion of extra virgin olive oil produced in Puglia is one of the missions of the OP Oliveti Terra di Bari and Finoliva Global Service, leaders in the sector, strongly supported by Italia Olivicola.
“We are constantly committed, in synergy with all the players in the supply chain, to project Apulian and Italian EVO onto foreign markets, to expand exports, internationalization and profitability of olive growing companies”, declares Gennaro Sicolo, national president of Italia Olivicola.
“This initiative, coherently, goes precisely in that direction, to make buyers from all over the world aware of the origin of our extra virgin olive oils, highlighting their full and total traceability”. Just in recent days, the OP Oliveti Terra di Bari approved the 2023 budget which established a significant growth in turnover, which in one year went from 17,217,380 euros to 31,913,548 euros in 2023. This is the most significant data put into evidence from the shareholders’ meeting which, last May 14, 2024, approved the 2023 budget. From January 1 to December 31, 2023, the OTB Cooperative obtained contributions of extra virgin olive oil from members to be marketed for a quantity of 4,062 .780kg.
