Where: Mallorca, Spain
Hectares: 6.5
Olive trees: 1700
Primary cultivars: 1100 (65%) Arbequina; 600 Koroneiki (35%)
Single or multiple orchards: Two orchards
On the Spanish island of Mallorca is the olive orchard and company Olíric, operated by proprietor Miquel Coll. The orchard contains a primary 6 hectares of olive trees with an additional 0.5 hectares close by.
The orchard came into Coll’s family’s possession in the 1940s when Coll’s great grandfather, Gabriel Canyelles, acquired the orchard and adjacent land, totalling 12 hectares. Through bequeathment, Canyelles’ two daughters (one being Coll’s grandmother) received the land, and today, six of the original 12 hectares—the land in which Olíric operates on—is principally in the possession of Coll’s parents.
The original orchard in the 1940s contained almost all almond trees and some fig trees. Because of the tree disease Xylella (known to stop the flow of sap) (sava in Catalan and sabia in Spanish), the family eventually cut down the almond trees. In 2011, Miquel began planting olive trees and Olíric was born.
(Prior to the almond orchard, the land was used as a vineyard until 1891, when it ceased operating because of a disease affecting vineyards in the region called Filoxera)
On the orchard is 1700 olive trees of two varieties—The Arbequina, indigenous to Spain, and the Koroneiki, a variety indigenous to Greece. All of the olive oil produced is Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, early harvested, cold pressed (23-25 degrees was cited), and harvested during daytime.
Coll cited that his orchard falls within the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) (DOP in Spanish) in Mallorca. He mentioned that the three protected olive varieties in the DOP are Arbequina, Picual and Morisca de Mancor. The latter, indigenous to Mallorca (used most commonly in higher altitudes on the island) and with biological ties linked back to Aragon, Spain, and from there, Syria.
For harvest the company uses a trunk shaker machine but follows this method with hand shaker devices to maximize the olives collected.
The company’s highest season was 7 tonnes of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (7000 litres). Last year was much lower at 3 tonnes (3000 litres). Miquel cited the olive fly as the main reason for the lower production.
Miquel has one sister who lives in Barcelona. She isn’t involved in the business.
The company has three branded Organic evoo products: Arbequina, Kornoneiki and a blend of Arbequina and Koroneiki.
To visit the Olíric website — Oliric.com
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