At Kadmus Olive Oil, the air is filled with the rich aroma of fresh olive oil—it’s officially harvesting and milling season, one of the most exciting times of the year for us. Nestled in the village of Xironomi, Greece, our mill stands as a meeting-point for farmers across the Boeotia region who arrive in their trucks, which are brimming with freshly harvested olives. Olive oil farming is more than a tradition in Greece; it’s a vital part of how local economies thrive, especially in rural areas. By providing jobs and supporting local businesses, our mill and olive groves play a role in sustaining the livelihoods of a number of families in the local community.

Growing olives is labour-intensive. It involves planting, nurturing, pruning, and continuously caring for the trees; which is why farmers dedicate their year to ensuring that their olive trees flourish and produce bountiful fruit. Additionally, during harvest season, farms need extra support when it comes to picking the olives, transporting them to a mill, and then distributing their olive oil where they see fit. This means that olive growing and harvesting is a way of sustaining and engaging rural communities all year round, while building strong ties to the land where the olive trees grow. We wanted to encourage farmers to keep the heritage of olive growing and harvesting alive while providing them with opportunities for year-round work, which is why we’ve invested in swathes of olive groves in the village of Xironomi, as well as the broader area that surrounds it.

Two people walking among an olive grove holding bags of produce

Olive oil production doesn’t end in the grove. There’s a whole value chain that involves processing, bottling, and packaging the oil. In many communities, small producers and local cooperatives take pride in handling such tasks themselves. By keeping everything local, they not only capture a larger share of the profits but also create a positive ripple effect that benefits the entire region. Pooling their resources together, the producers and local cooperatives can sell their olive oil to larger traders and markets. This has the cyclical effect of improving their household earnings and breathing life into other local businesses, such as equipment suppliers and transport services. More broadly, connecting local producers and businesses is a way of fostering resilient local economies.

Olive oil production can be educational, too. Workshops and tours at olive mills often reveal traditional techniques and modern innovations, engaging visitors in the rich cultural heritage of olive farming. We hosted one such event earlier this summer, where children from a primary school in the neighbouring town of Livadeia came to learn more about the process of making olive oil.

People standing in a row working on separating the olives from twigs and leaves

Olive growing and harvesting is a time-honoured practice in rural Greece where communities come together to preserve this heritage, along with celebrating the rich flavours of their land. As this is our second harvest season at Kadmus Olive Oil, we’ve seen the impact of gathering locals from nearby villages. Multiple generations of families turn up at our mill, with children watching their parents weigh crates bursting with olives and then feed them into the olive conveyor belt. Neighbours stroll along the olive production line chatting to each other, eager to see the final product, as the mill buzzes with the energy of machinery turning the olives into olive oil.

With each harvest at Kadmus Olive Oil, we celebrate the spirit of community and collaboration that keeps our traditions alive. To find out more about our mill and services, reach out here.