Our olives
In Tuscany the state organization for agriculture, A.R.S.I.A. - http://olivo.arsia.toscana.it/ - (Agenzia per lo Sviluppo e l'Regional Innovazione nel Settore Agricolo-forestale) registers about 76 varieties of olive trees. Our farm is comprised of the following traditional varieties:
Frantoio: This original Tuscan olive tree is fruity,spicy and renowned for good quality. It self pollinates as well as pollinates other varieties and is very senstive to low temperatures and frost
Leccino: This original Tuscan olive tree is one of our oldest varieties and originated in the Florence Province. It is fruity with a high quality, It requires pollination from other varieties. It is robust at low temperatures and is not easily diseased. It has good production and renders a sweeter oil.
Minerva: This olive tree is a new cross between Frantoio and Leccino and contains both characteristics and advantages. It is robust, tolerates low temperatures and is disease resistant.
Moraiolo: This is another original olive tree from Toscany which is productive, fruity, and has high quality. It also is sterile and needs pollination from other varieties of olives. It is very sensitive to low temperatures and frost.
Pendolino: This tree is also an original Tuscan olive tree from the province of Florence It has good production, is fruity and is of high quality. The Pendolino are very good pollinators with almost all varieties of olives. It is robust at low temperatures (freezing), but sensitive to diseases.
For your information
There are no green or black varieties of olives. The color of olives depends upon the stages of maturity. They turn black at different times depending on their variety and can only be used for food. Only green olives are used for olive oil before they turn black.
