Harvesting Olive Oil
By FNC Contract Reporter, Courtney Walsh
Italians live longer than most people. They also consume huge amounts of olive oil — a staple of the Mediterranean diet.
Most Italians are convinced that the two are related. Indeed the ancient Romans so revered olive oil they once used it for currency.
Nowadays Italian olive oil is sold throughout the world. But even if it has “extra vergine” (extra-virgin) and DOP on the label, signifying that the oil is from the first pressing of Italian olives, the quality varies greatly.
Earlier this week we had a chance to talk with some farmers in Southern Tuscany. They believe their oil is special, not only because of the copious use of “organic” fertilizer (ie dung) but also because of the way the olives are harvested.
What’s their secret? Find out more below:
done
Courtney Walsh joined FOX News Channel in 2004 as an FNC contract reporter based in Rome.
When the story hits, FOX News is there. With bureaus across the world, there isnt any news that gets by FOX News. 
this is all very interesting but what about the great domestic olive oil? The extra virgin olive oil that you are showing here rarely makes it to the united states. there are no laws that govern what goes on the label once it comes to our country. Much of the oil labeled as extra virgin in the stores could not be sold anywhere in the world but the united states. I understand that there are problems with it even being all olive oil. some are a blend of canola or hazenut oil.
In CA we have some great producers who hand harvest and use the old world methods like you show here. the quality is excellent. the mill at Frantoio is like the one in your video and the mill at the Temecula Olive Oil Company is the same technology but all stainless steel. both are small and family owned. let’s here it for our farmers in the united states!
So….do we live longer or not? You never answered that question. Not fair….we all want to know the answer.
Very nice images..I can just taste the olive oil. Beam me over to Southern Tuscany and thank you!
I definitely think that the olive oil has a lot to do with living longer, but they also may not have a McD’s at every corner either. Sure some part may have a ton of fast food places, but there are also many parts of Italy that are rural and there they eat all natural, healthy foods.
That’s precious…”The old-timers here say their olive oil has more flavor because their olives are hand-picked.”
Note that the Japanese live longer on average than the Italians, without the olive oil. Nevertheless, I am a advocate of the traditional Mediterranean diet. It has been shown to prolong life and prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and Parkinsons disease. Olive oil may indeed impart some of the health benefits.
To incorporate elements of the Mediterranean diet, visit the website of Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust, or my healthy lifestyle website, http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/
-Steve