Every year between October and December, olive oil season reaches its peak. In fact, these days, olive farmers are constantly visiting orchards to monitor so called veraison process (invaiatura in Italian). Veraison literally means change of color which characterizes the ripening process. Olives are drupes: a fleshy fruit, with thin skin and central stone containing the seed. During the ripening process the olives’ color changes from green to black while going through several shades of purple/pink. An olive harvested too early, when still solid green, would produce an olive oil with a very strong and acerbic taste. On the other hand, if olives are harvested at the very end or after veraison process, the oil tends to have a fatty taste. The colour of the oil is also affected, from dark-green to yellow-green. Olive farmers will start harvesting the olives when they are in the middle of veraison, before full ripeness. We estimate that in four or five days at the latest, we will start harvesting our orchards. The season is expected to be abundant and of good quality. However, this is not a guarantee of high quality extra virgin yet! For excellent quality, it is indispensable to take the integral and fresh harvested olive fruit to the mill. A damaged fruit would cause excessive oxidation affecting the quality of the pressing output. As per tradition, our customers can start buying our new olive oil at a small discount on the full price. This year we are also offering new packaging. We introduced 500 ml and 750 ml bottles. For our new customers, that wish to try without committing to a larger order, we are offering 10 half-litre bottles at a very competitive price that includes shipping cost. To learn more please visit www.oliogorrasi.com.
0 Comments
On the market, there are hundreds of offers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with prices ranging from less than €3 to more than €30 per liter. In most cases, these are products that are the result of refining or blends of oils of different origins. The standard, often mediocre, varies a lot.
Is it still possible for the final consumer to select and purchase a 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil of guaranteed quality? Yes, it is possible. Few common sense rules can help:
Azienda Agricola Gorrasi is a small farm that produces olive oil from olives grown and harvested from its own olive orchard. New olive oil will be shipped in about six weeks. For shipments within Italy shipping is free. For shipping within the European Union we apply a flat shipping cost of €28 which is about 50% lower than real cost. Special terms apply for group orders. Please contact us for a quote. Buy now on our online store. We have a 30-day, no question asked, cancellation policy. Once the order is submitted you can cancel it with a simple email to customerservice@oliogorrasi.com within 30 days. In case of cancellation we will refund 100% of your money within 14 calendar days from your cancellation request. Any transaction cost will be incurred by us. Following your cancellation, in case we require return of the product we shipped to you, the cost for the return shipping is also incurred by us.
For more information or clarification about our cancellation policy, please do not hesitate to write to us at customerservice@oliogorrasi.com. This is the rule of law and we follow it rigorously, but we do more to protect our customers... Either you pay by credit card or PayPal your are entitled to PayPal buyer protection. Furthermore, we are 100% confident in our product, a customer can return at no cost, at any time... not within 14 or 30 days as stated by EU consumer protection rules, literally "at any time" and 100% money back. Our Olive Oil is a real Italian product made with our own olives, cultivated and harvested by us. We are not mad, we genuinely believe that a satisfied customer is in our interest. What about if you receive the parcel seriously damaged? We will send you a new one, at our expenses of course. Unfortunately, during peak shopping periods couriers might deliver damaged parcels. It is not an obligation of yours, if you see that the packaging is damaged please "accept with reserve". It will help us claim back from the shipping company. Olive Oil has only recently gained its place in the kitchens and diets of those foreign to the Mediterranean. In the United Kingdom of 20 years ago for example, olive oil was unheard of by the mass and practically non-existent in the food distribution chain.
In our modern day however, olive oil is recognized as a healthier alternative and found to be widely available in both supermarkets and restaurants across Northern Europe. There is currently a vast range of olive oil on the market. Unfortunately for the consumer this often makes purchasing a product of quality at a fair price a tricky feat. Next time you walk into a supermarket or food store take a look at the extra virgin olive oil section. You will undoubtedly find that the price range is extremely broad, from bottles being sold at €3 up to €12. With this in mind, take a moment to consider…are these all of the same quality? Are they all extra virgin olive oil? But most importantly, ask yourself, can I be certain that the more elevated price indicates superior quality? Well, no. There is a much higher chance of purchasing a fair valued, quality product when one buys directly from the producer. Hitherto, how can you yourself buy from the producer if you are living in a city like Amsterdam, London or Copenhagen where there aren’t really very many olive groves around? Thankfully, magical new technologies, such as the internet, can help. As small producers of olive oil, with family owned groves located in Southern Italy we are able to ship our Extra Virgin Olive Oil to customers across Europe upon request. Literally, from tree to table. Please go to our store if you wish to submit an order. |