DVD of Tunisian Olive Oil

Organic-info's Karin Heinze recently travelled with US videographer Stephen Newton (see picture below) and more than two dozen other food editors, importers, wholesalers and gourmet retailers for five days and covered more than 500 miles through Tunisia. Germans have always perceived Tunisia first and foremost as a supplier of dates, but in fact this North African country produces a wide range of organic olive oils. Olive plantations account for more than 40 % of organically managed land. With various measures and programmes, the Tunisian government’s aim is to expand cropping and to stimulate exports.

Tunisia currently has around 285,000 ha of organically certified land. According to government plans, targeted support should raise this figure to 500,000 ha by 2014, with olives playing a major role. Already over 40 % of organic land is planted with olive trees. 100,000 trees are certified organic by certification organisations like BCS, Ecocert, ICEA or Lacon, and around 115,000 ha of olive plantations (in 2008) are no longer treated with chemical fertilisers and pesticides. According to the firm Packtec, that runs the Tunisian olive oil campaign, 25,000 t of organic olive oil were produced in 2009, of which 10,000 t (9,656 t to be exact) were exported (we reported earlier). Information on organic agriculture can be accessed on the website of the Centre Technique de l’Agriculture Biologique.

Newton's video of the trade mission may be viewed here. For copies of the widescreen DVD send your address to info@100percentTunisian.com.