In Tunisia, the largest olive oil production areas are located in Sidi Bouzid and Sfax. Tunisian farmers have developed thriving organic farming.
Why is organic farming important in Tunisia?
There is no doubt that organic farming has preserved the wealth of olive biodiversity in the country. Today, Tunisian farmers can draw from over 200 autochthonous varieties to produce their extra virgin olive oils. Their germplasm is conserved at the National Gene Bank in Tunis and at the Boughrara Collection of the Olive Tree Institute in Sfax.
Can you eat olives in Tunisia?
All of these varieties are exclusively cultivated in Tunisia and can be both consumed as table olives and used to produce extra virgin olive oil. Tunisia’s olive growers have also started to experiment with other cultivars native from different countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain.
Are Tunisian olive groves irrigated?
Currently, the majority of Tunisian olive groves are not irrigated and depend entirely on rainwater. For this reason, research into this area has greatly increased and new studies have become available on minor and rare Tunisian varieties.