Koura:The Agriculture Directorate of Koura District has confirmed that manual harvesting is the most effective method for producing high-quality olive oil.
According to Jordan News Agency, Abdel Elah Obeidat, head of the directorate, stated that a significant portion of local olive crops are collected by hand. He explained that although manual harvesting involves higher operational costs, it prevents damage to the fruit and results in premium-grade oil.
Obeidat stressed the importance of aligning harvest techniques with the intended use of the olives. He urged farmers to adopt best practices before transporting their yields to press facilities, recommending the use of well-ventilated plastic crates instead of plastic bags and suggesting that growers schedule press times in advance to ensure processing occurs within 24 hours of harvest.
He further advised that if milling is delayed, harvested olives should be spread out in shaded, well-ventilated areas where temperatures do not exceed 15 degrees Celsius. For storing processed oil, Obeidat recommended placing containers off the ground on wooden pallets to avoid soil moisture and keeping them away from strong odors. He also warned against using transparent containers, as light exposure can degrade the oil composition and alter its color.