Good prospects, after a hard 2016, for olive harvest in Italy. Although the hot and dry summer damaged the good blossoming of last May, expectations for the new olive harvest are better than last year. The 2016 crop was the worst in memory. We are expecting higher volumes that should allow better prices, said Valentina Sabatini, export manager at Coppini. Product and packaging innovation are the key driver of Coppini’s offer. Two years ago, the company launched the “Think Green Line”, where the best authentic extra virgin olive oil was presented in an eco-friendly packaging. The bottle is made with 70% recycled glass and the packaging is fully recyclable. This year, Coppini is betting on “Unico”, where the best 100% certified Italian extra virgin olive oil is sold in colored ceramic bottles made of Umbria’s renowned Deruta pottery.
A bright outlook
Following 10 consecutive years of growth, expectations for this year are positive. As an example, in 2016 we closed with a 49% increase in sold liters, and we also registered a 40% rise in the number of people employed. Expectations for the closing year and for 2018 are even better, Sabatini said. Coppini, which is also looking to expand abroad, will attend the FHC trade show in Shanghai, the Fancy Food shows in the United States, and Sial in Paris.
Sunflower oil producers upbeat despite drought
Despite the negative impact of the extremely hot Summer, also Italian seed oil producers are optimistic about the harvest season. The heat and lack of rain have been a problem in several areas of Italy, with a sensible reduction in output per hectare, partly offset by an increase in harvested acreage, said Enrico Zavaglia, president of the oil seed group at Italian oil association Assitol. Production in Italy totaled 220,000 tons this year, more than 50% of which from high oleic sunflower oil, whose demand is growing. High oleic sunflower is a non-GMO result of traditional plant breeding first studied by Russian researchers which is high in oleic acid, low in polyunsaturated fat and more stable during cooking.