European Olives & Olive Oil

The olive tree, Olea europaea, belongs to the Oleaceae family and is cultivat­ed in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean. It comprises great agricul­tural importance in the Mediterranean region as a source of olive oil, but also for its use as a food of high quality and nutritional value. In Mediterranean countries, οlives are used as snacks, appetizers, inside salads and in various vegetarian dishes. Of particular importance is the fact that Olive Oil is the main component of the Mediterranean Diet, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) has been adopted as the standard of healthy nutrition worldwide.