The first-ever “Olive and Olive Oil Festival” held in Manavgat, Antalya, highlighted the city's olive production potential.
Hosted by Manavgat Municipality from November 1-3, the festival featured an olive-themed parade and various events, including olive pressing in ancient stone basins. Workshops, discussions, and forums focusing on olive agriculture and the olive oil sector were organized at the Manavgat Atatürk Cultural Center, attracting many visitors from within and outside Manavgat.
"WE WILL INCREASE THE VALUE OF OLIVES"
Manavgat Mayor Dr. Niyazi Nefi Kara shared plans to make the festival an annual event, aiming to elevate it to an international scale. “With this festival, we have taken a significant step to showcase that our district is a major producer of olives and olive oil. Stakeholders and olive producers are pleased to see olives being discussed for the first time in the region. Our district, home to 2 million olive trees, considers olives an integral part of our agricultural culture and a valuable economic asset,” said Mayor Kara. Manavgat hosts 11 types of olives, including unique local varieties such as "Beylik," for which the city will seek a geographical indication. The district currently has 50,000 acres dedicated to olive cultivation, producing approximately 50,000 tons of olives annually, and around 9-10,000 tons of olive oil from 11 operating factories.
"MANAVGAT WILL CREATE ITS OWN BRANDS"
Mayor Kara emphasized the importance of supporting the growing olive agriculture in the district by advancing branding and mechanization efforts in olive oil production. “By boosting the added value of olive oil, we aim to improve farmers’ welfare through initiatives in marketing and cooperatives. Manavgat will establish its own brands, and as the mayor, I am committed to ensuring the sustainability of the olive farming and olive oil sectors,” he added.
"OLIVES MEAN HEALTH"
The mayor, also a doctor, highlighted olives’ health benefits, saying, “Olives are beneficial for everything, from our hair to our nails, our heart, and our brain, thanks to their antioxidant properties. Consuming olives and olive oil fosters peace within the body and enhances harmony. Promoting the consumption and appreciation of olives and olive oil is our primary goal.”
SUSTAINABILITY, SUPPORT, ORGANIZATION, AND BRANDING DISCUSSED
A series of workshops, discussions, and forums were held as part of the festival. A workshop moderated by agricultural writer Mine Ataman covered quality, geographical indications, and culinary topics. On the second day, a forum moderated by journalist Meliha Okur featured prominent agricultural writer Ali Ekber Yıldırım, who discussed issues related to labor, adulteration, and the importance of government support in agriculture. Antalya Agricultural Services Director Seda Özel emphasized the importance of avoiding water-intensive crops and the role of organization in agriculture. Another discussion on olive oil was moderated by Ezgi Gözeger in the Saraçlı district, where female olive producers used traditional cold-pressing techniques in ancient stone basins to produce oil from Manavgat's indigenous olives.
LOCAL OLIVES IN FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE DREW GREAT INTEREST
Throughout the festival, olives and olive oils from the Manavgat region were showcased at a marketplace held in front of the Manavgat Atatürk Cultural Center. Local producers presented various types of olives and olive oils, which attracted significant interest from visitors.