Olive harvesting has an extraordinary importance for the Italian economy, since Italy is one of the great protagonists of the international olive oil sector and among the most important producers in the Mediterranean basin, where 3/4 of the world production is concentrated.
In order to excel, thousands of small or very small farms focus not so much on the quantity as on the quality of the olives harvested. Italy has 42 DOP and 7 IGP oils, i.e., the majority of those recognized within the entire European Union. Olive growing and EVO oil production are among the undisputed symbols of Made in Italy, a concept made up of craftsmanship and traditions, which however embrace innovation, as well as of a constant attitude for evolution.
For decades Campagnola has been alongside olive growers from all over the world and has been following the evolution of this fascinating sector, always trying to play a proactive role in the search for effective solutions to facilitate it and constantly raise its quality. In fact, facilitating the work of farmers means contributing to the success of olives and olive oil.
Different techniques for a quality collection
Olive growing has its roots in very ancient times,
when manual harvesting was the only possible option to obtain a qualitatively satisfactory harvest. Today the evolution of technology has led to a significant transformation of the sector, but some of the traditional methods, despite having evolved, still remain as they were.
The techniques used in the harvesting season are utmost important, not only because they determine a significant commitment in terms of costs and manpower, but also because they can affect the final quality of the product.
The commitment of Campagnola has always been to stay alongside farmers, studying solutions that maintain a perfect balance among several specific needs: the well-being of the plant, the comfort of the operators, the budget for the purchase and maintenance of equipment and the quality of the final product: oil or table olives.
But what are the main harvesting techniques used?
How to pick olives by hand
Hand harvesting of the olives is certainly the most traditional method. For hundreds of years it had been the only system used by farmers, but today too it is used with particularly valuable olive varieties.
It is much easier to use it in case of low and small plants, grown ad hoc for this technique. The great advantage is its respectful impact on the olives, since their integrity and quality are guaranteed. However, this technique does not exclude the use of tools that can facilitate the achievement of faster and more efficient results, such as simple manual rakes.
Furthermore, it is necessary to use olive nets and safe ladders, when the branches exceed the height that can be reached by hand.
Harvesting olives by hand: advantages and disadvantages
Just manually harvesting requires patience and meticulousness, but it allows the operator to preserve the integrity of the drupes and apply the artisan knowledge of the olive growers.
On the other hand, however, it involves long times. This may affect the quality of the oil obtained. In fact, the time between harvesting and milling must be short, as olives must be brought to the mill within 24/48 hours after their detachment from the branch to ensure an excellent result, which is not easy to achieve with totally manual harvesting operations.
Furthermore, it is undoubtedly a economically sustainable technique, considering the manpower hours to be employed. For this reason, it has been replaced, or at least accompanied, by semi-mechanized or fully mechanized harvesting methods.
Tools for olive harvesting
Hand-beating is the technique that makes the olives fall by shaking the branches by means of poles or sticks. It makes it possible to detach the ripe olives, so that they fall into adequate nets to then be selected and processed.
Although this system has been used for centuries, it is not to be considered very favorable to the health of the plant, as beating the branches could cause them damages or peeling.
How to harvest olives effortlessly
The technological evolution of the agricultural sector has led to the manufacture of harvesting tools, which can be mechanically operated by different power sources. The most common hand harvesting methods are simulated by these tools, but they relieve the operator of the physical effort, which is necessary for completely manual interventions.
For olive farms, automating operations by means of professional and reliable mechanical tools drastically reduces harvest times and labor costs. Discussion is always open about the possible deterioration of the quality of the olives and oil with the use of mechanized techniques, but the main discriminating factor is the choice of excellent quality tools, which can ensure maximized performance, preserving intact the quality standards of the products.
Tools for olive harvesting
In addition to the large olive tree shakers used in larger farms, harvesters are undoubtedly the most widespread and appreciated mechanized tools. They are. special rakes fitted with prongs, which move among the branches and cause the detachment of the ripe olives.
Campagnola has been investing for decades in the design, prototyping and production of olive harvesters powered by efficient lithium-ion batteries, endothermic engines, PTO or engine-driven air compressors. Since the development of the first rake by Campagnola, the road has been long, leading to the creation of a complete range of professional olive harvesters, designed for a more intensive use.
The manufacture quality and the technological evolution of our tools constantly improve and follow, step by step, the changed working conditions and the needs of today’s farmers. Our Research & Development department is continuously involved in renewals and updates, to offer decisive innovations to the market in terms of performance and technological level.
Our range of products constantly expands and renews itself with different configurations of the harvesting heads and revolutionary power supply systems, which meet the preferences of those who choose pneumatic, electric or engine-driven harvesters.
Browse our catalogs or get in touch with a dealer in your area to test the quality and performance of our harvesting tools!