Antalya Commodity Exchange opened an online Olive School in cooperation with the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture in order to develop and expand olive and olive oil production in the region, and to inform producers and investors.
In Turkey, which ranks fourth in the world in olive production, the Olive School, which was opened online in cooperation with the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Agriculture of the Antalya Commodity Exchange in order to develop and expand olive and olive oil production in the region, and to inform producers and investors, has attracted great interest.
Ali Çandır, Chairman of the Board of the Antalya Commodity Exchange, in his speech on the first day of the lesson, said that olives are a very important value for these lands. Explaining that as Antalya Commodity Exchange, they have been working on olives and olive varieties for a long time, Çandır reminded that they brought the 2.630 decare Foundation Olive Orchard, which they rented from the Regional Directorate of Foundations, to the city.
Noting that there are 20 thousand trees in the olive grove, Çandır said: “We are not in the place we deserve in terms of production, consumption and added value from these products. That’s why I take this training very seriously. I hope this training will make significant contributions to the great richness of our lands, the added value of olives, and the reaching of this value that belongs to us to the public.”
Olive School has Received Great Interest
Antalya Agriculture Provincial Director Gökhan Karaca also mentioned the importance of producer training in agriculture. Expressing that they continued these trainings uninterruptedly during the pandemic period, Karaca said, “We are happy that the Olive School has received great interest. Farmers, academics, agricultural engineers, many entrepreneurs who want to invest in agriculture, as well as participants from various countries attend the training.
İzmir Olive Research Institute Agricultural Engineer Muzaffer Kerem Savran reminded that Turkey is the homeland of olives. Noting that the interest in olive and olive oil production and consumption has increased with the increasing interest in healthy nutrition in the world in recent years, Savran said: It ranks 8th with 864 thousand hectares. We are in the 5th place in table olive exports with 75 thousand tons, and in the 5th place in olive oil exports with 56 thousand tons. Countries such as Spain and Italy hold the market by making imports. Egypt has made a breakthrough in the field of table olives and has become the most important producer country after Spain. Tunisia is the most important competitor of Turkey in olive oil exports.”
Emphasizing that Tunisia has made a special agreement with EU countries and exported without being subject to customs duty, Muzaffer Kerem Savran said, “The consumption of olive oil is low in Turkey. We consume 2 kilograms of olive oil per person. Greece and Spain consume 11 kilograms, while Italy consumes 8 kilograms. Since 2005, serious steps have been taken to increase production in Turkey. The presence of olive trees in Turkey is increasing every year. It is tried to increase the production and consumption of olive and olive oil with the support”.
Discovery of Anatolia’s Ancient Olive Oil Press in Antalya
Unique Findings in Lyrboton Kome
An extraordinary archaeological discovery has been made in the ruins of Lyrboton Kome, situated in Antalya, where the oldest known olive oil press in Anatolia has been uncovered. Archaeologists are particularly thrilled to learn that both the town and its olive oil facilities were established by a woman, highlighting a remarkable aspect of the site’s history. “This is the first time we’re seeing such facilities, and this one stands as the oldest known olive oil establishment in the region. It’s remarkable that its founders were women, who have historically played a protective role over the olive trees. The inscriptions here offer insights into how these facilities were operated and the regulations in place. We can deduce that these olive oil facilities were preserved across at least three generations,” remarked Professor Nevzat Çevik, who heads the Kepez Archaeopark Project at Akdeniz University.
Arete: The Pioneer and Architect of Settlement
Professor Çevik highlighted that a woman named Arete, whose name translates to “honor,” was central to the establishment of this settlement. “This woman is recognized as the owner of the site. She constructed a tower dedicated to Emperor Domitian and Perge Artemis. Most significantly, she formalized production by setting up olive oil facilities. The ownership and management originated with Arete and were sustained by her daughter Kille, as well as succeeding generations. The influence of this matriarchal lineage was evident in both the settlement and its production activities.”
Ongoing Excavations and Future Aspirations
Excavation work at Lyrboton Kome commenced in 2016, revealing a variety of olive oil workshops, residential buildings, baths, and churches. Upon completion of the excavation project, the ancient city will be transformed into a historical and nature-themed park, showcasing the Arete Tower along with the area’s natural flora and geological features.
Kepez’s Mayor Hakan Tütüncü noted, “Kepez is becoming a hub for some of the most significant and prestigious sites in Antalya. This ancient city, which dates back 2,000 years and is not widely known, is among our treasured assets. We envisioned turning this area into an archaeopark, and it has taken shape in just two years. The first year involved clearing the vegetation, and in the second year, we initiated the restoration of the artifacts. We plan to start welcoming visitors this year to the Lyrboton Kome Archaeopark, making it a new attraction.”
The Historical Context of Lyrboton Kome
Professor Çevik explained that the city emerged as a settlement during the Hellenistic period and experienced significant growth under Roman Emperor Domitian during the first century.
“The area was later expanded and continued to be utilized well into the Christian era, evident from the presence of three churches. It likely fell into disuse by the 11th century at the latest. Although its roots trace back to the Roman period, this city has a history spanning at least 2,000 years,” he noted, emphasizing that the site does not reveal any Turkish layers.
According to Çevik, Lyrboton Kome was recognized as a village (kome) linked to Perge and served as a vital center for olive oil production.
“The site features extensive olive oil facilities, with no fewer than 80 workshops, and we expect that number to increase when the entire settlement is fully excavated. Our research in this region spans over three decades, and findings of this scale in a single settlement are unprecedented. In essence, this settlement constitutes a well-preserved realm of olive oil production,” said Çevik.