Olive oil production: discover how the process occurs in Brazil and the difficulties faced by producers

One of the difficulties encountered in the country is the soil, to carry out cultivation it is necessary to correct it.

The production of Brazilian olive oils has grown in recent years. According to data from the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation, Rio Grande do Sul (RS) broke an industrialization record in 2022, around 448,580 liters were produced.

This demonstrates that Brazil has great potential to become one of the largest olive oil producers in the world. However, this process is not that easy.

As it is located in a warmer environment and with differences in soil and climate, the country does not have all the facilities to produce olive oil like European countries, such as Spain and Italy.

Despite this, products grown and produced in the country are gaining more and more space in awards and on Brazilians' tables.

For you to better understand the production of national olive oils and the difficulties in producing olives in Brazil, we have prepared this article. Keep reading!

Production of national olive oils

Olive farming, an activity linked to the cultivation of olives, is expanding across national lands. The largest producers are located in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, but also in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, mainly in the Serra da Mantiqueira region.

According to Olive Cultivation Registration In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the olive planted area occupies around 5,986 hectares distributed in 108 municipalities, the main ones being Encruzilhada do Sul, Bagé, Viamão, São Sepé and Cachoeira do Sul.

As it is the state with the largest number of producers, it accounts for 75% of national olive oil production.

The difference between national and foreign production occurs due to the way the olives are harvested, pressed and, mainly, the speed at which this happens.

The olives are harvested manually or, in some cases, semi-manually or mechanically to preserve the fruit. Extraction is done using more modern and technological equipment, unlike some European producers who still use old machinery or techniques.

Next, find out a little more about the production process at Lagar H , located in Cachoeira do Sul.

Lagar H olive oil production

The quality of Lagar H extra virgin olive oils begins with the choice of olives. All varieties of fruit planted in the mill are selected by Glenda Haas, olive oil specialist and director of Lagar H, and her team of experts.

Planting takes place in ideal soil conditions, allowing space between olive trees. When they are ready for harvest, the olives are removed from the farm and extracted in the oil mill inside the olive grove itself.

The short distance between both locations maintains the quality of the fruits and allows extraction in a controlled environment.

The olive oil is extracted using state-of-the-art Italian machinery within six hours of harvest. The liquid is stored in stainless steel tanks with nitrogen in a climate-controlled room, ensuring neutrality of the atmosphere and preventing product oxidation.

Finally, extra virgin olive oil is packaged in tamper-proof bottles that help maintain freshness and quality.

But, before taking the first step in growing olives, the team needs to study the soil and correct the nutrients and other substances necessary to create a suitable place for planting.

This happens because Brazil does not have a characteristic soil for growing olives, in addition to a much more humid climate for much of the year. This is one of the difficulties that national producers have when working with olive oils.

Difficulties in planting olives in Brazil

The states that concentrate the largest number of olive oil producers in Brazil have the most favorable climatic conditions for planting, due to the altitude and tropics in which they are located.

According to Glenda Haas, in a interview for “Fork Podcast” , Brazil is located in an environment parallel to the Mediterranean, but has some differences and difficulties in relation to the cultivation of olive oil, one of them being the soil.

The soil has a higher acidity level, meaning it must be corrected before growing the first olives, as there are certain olive trees that do not grow in more acidic soils.

Another difficulty encountered, one of the biggest faced by producers, is the large volume of rain.

“In Mediterranean countries, where plantations are located, it rains 100, 200 millimeters per year. We receive rainfall of 1,200 and 1,500 millimeters, and can reach 2,000”, highlights Glenda Haas in the interview.

Despite these difficulties, Brazil continues to grow exponentially in terms of olive oil production, with internationally recognized quality, offering consumers different flavors and nuances for each product. One of these olive oils is Lagar H.

Lagar H extra virgin olive oil has the ideal flavor and freshness for all your recipes. Choose your olive oil on the website and discover the quality and transparency of our products.