Olive groves and olive oil mills for sale in Argentina

Argentina ranks first on the American continent both as a producer and exporter of olive oil. The estimated surface area is 110,000 hectares, most of which is irrigated. 50% corresponds to olive oil varieties, 30% to table olive varieties and 20% to dual-purpose varieties (oil and olives).

The most important olive growing areas are located in the provinces of La Rioja, which occupies the first place (27.8%) of the total olive growing area, followed by Mendoza (22.9%), Catamarca (20.8%), San Juan (20.2%), Córdoba (5.0%), followed by the south of Buenos Aires (2.8%) and finally Rio Negro (0.6%).

Argentina exports olive oil to more than 27 countries. The main destinations are the American continent with 63% of the total (41% USA) followed by the European Union with 37%.

In Argentina there are different varieties of olive trees. Among the producing regions:

Catamarca for Arbequina, Manzanilla and Coratina.

La Rioja for Arbequina, Manzanilla, Barnea, Picual and Frontino.

San Juan for the Arbequina, Manzanilla, Barnea, Picual and Hojiblanca varieties

Mendoza for Arbequina, Arauco, Farga and Empeltre

Cordoba for Arbequina, Arauco, Frantoio, Farga and Manzanilla

Buenos Aires and Rio Negro for Arbequina, Frantoio, Picual and Changlot.

In the Arauco District, in the province of La Rioja, the Cuatricentenario olive tree is found. The Argentinean variety with a wide international trajectory takes its name from this region.

In Argentina, modern and traditional production systems coexist. Modern systems (in hedgerows such as Intensive or Super-intensive) are the models most commonly used in the olive-growing regions of this country.

Modern low-density intensive farms are characterised by intensive planting frames between 200 to 800 trees/ha with varieties mostly intended for the production of extra virgin olive oil. Irrigation is localised and pruning and harvesting are mechanised. The average expected yield is estimated at 10 tonnes of olives per hectare.

The super-intensive model, in hedgerows of more than 800 trees per hectare, is carried out in areas where the agro-climatic conditions limit the vegetative development of the plants. The varieties of smaller size or vigour, such as Arbequina or Arbosana, are those that allow shorter distances between rows with a rapid entry into production. In this model, the distance per row is between 5 and 2 m between plants.

In contrast, the traditional production model is characterised by wide planting frames with densities ranging from 69 to 156 trees/ha. They are largely made up of old Arauco olive trees, the main purpose of which is the production of table olives. Other characteristics of this system are: low incorporation of technology, surface irrigation (‘manto’ or ‘tazas’), manual harvesting. In these plantations it is estimated that the average expected yield is 5/6 tonnes of olives per hectare.

Regarding the time of harvesting, regardless of the production model, it starts at the end of January or the beginning of February and lasts until the end of June, depending on the area and the variety. Manual harvesting begins in the northern provinces, mainly La Rioja and the Catamarca Valley, with table olive varieties. Then the olive oil varieties continue from the end of March until May, when harvesting is generally mechanised. In the months of May-June, harvesting takes place in the provinces located in the south of the country.