Replanting the Olive Groves of Puglia
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Over the past few years when visiting Puglia we have been increasingly saddened by the extent of devastation caused by the Xylella Fastidiosa bacteria. Miles and miles of what looked like burnt, ghost like olive trees.
In the last 5 years, Xylella has destroyed over 21 million olive trees in Salento, one of Puglia’s most important crops. Puglia, at its peak, produced 80% of all olive oil produced by Italy. Olive groves that have been in the same family for generations have been decimated.
In response to Puglia’s xylella crisis, OlivaMi, a grassroots organization, was founded in January 2022 by a group of concerned individuals who were determined to revive Puglia’s olive groves.
Essential Italy admire their single minded mission to repopulate Salento’s olive groves, ensuring a future for the local farmers and their families. We have adopted 50 olive trees and look forward to visiting them on our next trip.
We also love Italian olive oil, Olivami send 1 litre of top quality virgin olive oil for every tree adopted.
If you wish to join us and adopt a tree it is simple – check out their webpage. Not only are you assisting the local farmers to regenerate their ancient lifestyle and replant CO2 efficient, xylella resistant trees you also get Olive Oil direct to your door!!
If you are visiting Puglia with Essential Italy this year and would like to view the work Olivami are undertaking in the area please let us know, we’ll be delighted to arrange this for you.
