Spanish and Greek olive growers, one of the partners of the project “Olive Tree Cultivation in the Climate Age: Fighting with Adaptation Strategies” project partners, Spanish and Greek olive growers tasted olive oil. Guest producers gave full marks to the olive oils they tasted.
Financed by the European Union (EU), the Town Twinning between Turkey and the EU-II: Twinning for a Green Future Grant Scheme funded by the European Union (EU), Juan Rotger Segui, Mayor of Selva (Mallorca), Manuel Jose Barredo Enrique, Ana Maria Rotger Mestre, Beatriz Lechuga Tortella, Selva Municipality Council Members, Esperença Devis, Deputy Project Coordinator, The delegation consisting of Joan Toni Gual Mir, Director of Agriculture of Selva Municipality, Jose Rotger Garau, olive and olive oil producer, Bernat Barcello Perello, Agricultural and Forestry Engineer, Julia Frau Martorell, Head of Communications and Konstantinos Kaisaris, Representative of the Council of Europe Olive Tree Culture Route, visited Edremit Chamber of Commerce.
Spanish and Greek Olive Growers Tasted Edremit Olive Oils
After the presentations in the assembly hall, the delegation went to the Olive Oil Sensory Analysis Tasting Laboratory. Spanish and Greek olive growers tasted the olive oils of the region with the presentation of Sensory Panel Test Leader Zülal Taçar. In the tasting programme where the characteristics of the region’s varieties and production processes were introduced, the distinctive features of the geographically marked products were also introduced and tasted.
Very High Quality Turkish Olive Oil
Mayor of Selva, Juan Rotger Segui said, “We had the chance to observe here that there are very high quality products related to the production of olive oil. We had the chance to see these products of the Edremit region. We were really welcomed here with a very good hospitality and we are very happy to be here.”
Stating that they had the opportunity to experience quality Turkish olive oils, Segui said, “As a result of the tasting, we witnessed olive oil with very fruity, very high quality flavours. Our olive oil in Spain has similar aromas, fruity flavours and qualities at these levels. We had the chance to observe that the local government, Edremit Municipality, has done a very successful job with its production facilities and all other facilities and staff regarding the production of good olive oil.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the visit, Edremit Chamber of Commerce President Ahmet Çetin said, “Today we hosted the Mayor of Selva from Mallorca Island in Spain and the team with him, who are guests of Edremit Municipality. There are also mayors of towns, producers and municipality employees. Firstly, we introduced Edremit Chamber of Commerce to them. Then our geographically labelled products were introduced. Tuğba Abacigil from Balıkesir University, Edremit School of Olive Growing also gave information about the region. Then we came to Edremit Chamber of Commerce Etolab Sensory Analysis Laboratory, one of the 9 sensory analysis laboratories in Turkey, where we held a tasting panel. We gave them the opportunity to taste the quality olive oils of our region and after a very pleasant tasting panel, we sent them off with good memories.”
About Edremit
Edremit, formerly Adramyttium, is a municipality and district of Balıkesir Province, Turkey. Its area is 682 km2, and its population is around 170.000.
It is situated at the tip of the gulf with the same name (Gulf of Edremit), with its town centre a few kilometres inland, and is an important centre of trade, along with the other towns that are situated on the same gulf (namely Ayvalık, Gömeç, Burhaniye and Havran). It is also one of the largest district centres of Balıkesir Province. The district of Edremit, especially around Kazdağı, is largely covered with forests.
Edremit’s economy relies largely on the production of olives, as well as on tourism. Edremit is known as the olive capital of Turkey. Kaz Dağı National Park, extending around the ancient Mount Ida (mentioned in Homer’s epic poems such as the Iliad), is situated within the boundaries of Edremit district and is an important tourist attraction with its natural scenery and a number of picturesque small villages around it.