The Olive Industry is Growing in Kakheti

As the wine harvest in Kakheti comes to an end, there is another crop ripening for picking this year. The village of Saqobo, near Sighnaghi, has begun gathering olives that are to be sold both domestically and abroad.

The trees were planted on 300 hectares of land 7 years ago. In 2016, an olive processing plant was opened in the village by Dutch-Turkish investments as part of the state-run program for Co-financing Agriculture Products Processing Plants. With an investment of 5 million GEL, it was the first production plant of its kind in Georgia. Equipped with modern manufacturing machinery to create competitive olive-based products, the plant manufactures olive oil and soap through cold distillation.

“Over the past 5-6 years, tens of successful enterprises have been established as part of the state programs. This enterprise manufactures the core product of olive and processes olive, which is very popular in Georgia and abroad,” noted Luri Nozadze, Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture.

The market for Georgian Olive Oil is progressing. Giorgi Svanidze, the founder of Georgia Olive Oil, announced last week that Georgian olive oil will be available at Carrefour supermarket and Agrohub for the first time. Next year, they plan to sell their olive oil in almost all large supermarkets. Georgia has a long-standing history with olives. The first known olive trees were planted by a monk in Atoni in 1879. However, the tradition was lost during Soviet times. Today, olives are grown in Kakheti, Imereti, Guria, and Kvemo Kartli. The olive industry in Kakheti employs more than 100 people, with plans to continue expansion. In the future, Georgia Olive Oil plans to produce pip, pomegranate, and peach to provide products year-round.

By Amy Jones