Baller Alert
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
No Result
View All Result
Baller Alert
No Result
View All Result

Experts Warn of Olive Oil Shortage Due to Bacteria, Covid-19, and The Ukraine War

by Iesha
June 14, 2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Experts Warn of Olive Oil Shortage Due to Bacteria, Covid-19, and The Ukraine War

Oil pouring and dripping to the spoon close up

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

According to experts, the olive oil industry has been plagued by continuous challenges for the better part of a decade, and the situation is becoming progressively dire.

A fast-spreading bacteria that kills olive trees is one of the most severe issues, combined with COVID-related production challenges and supply issues stemming from Ukraine’s ongoing war.

According to Atlas Obscura, the problems began over a decade ago when a bacteria known as Xylella fastidiosa began damaging olive trees in Italy, killing an estimated 20 million in Puglia. The bacteria causes the trees to acquire an unhealthy pale tint and leaves them with “no chance of survival.”

The bacteria, spread by hilaenus spumarius, a type of insect that feeds on tree sap, has already expanded beyond Puglia, which produces 12% of the world’s olive oil. According to Atlas Obscura, it has now spread to the entire country of Italy, as well as other Mediterranean nations.

“This is the most critical time [for olive oil]. There is an unforeseeable future,” said Pietro Brembilla, owner of Italian culinary good retailer Sogno Toscano.

In the past five years, the bacteria have reduced production by about 50%. Brembilla is concerned that not enough is being done to address the problem.
“It’s been way too many years that this has been an issue … it is ruining the crops,” Brembilla said, adding that one of the biggest problems with the bacteria is that affected products don’t fulfill health regulations to be shipped throughout the world.

“I am pretty worried. I love my country, but we’re not the best at taking matters into our own hands. There have only been slow changes [in fixing the blight issue].”

However, according to Francesco D’Onofrio, a sourcing officer with the retailer Supermarket Italy, government-supported programs such as mass tree planting are beneficial in combating the bacteria.

“I’ve spoken with many major producers in Italy today, and they do not see any issues with the product for the 2023 harvest,” D’Onofrio told The Post. Nevertheless, he recognizes that a lot more problems are impacting the oil.

Particularly in America, the pandemic has impacted the cost efficiency, production, and transportation of olive oil, as it did many other items. Significant price increases have resulted from labor shortages, supply chain challenges, increased energy costs, and excessive backlogs at ports across the world.
Brembilla and one of his longtime clients, Mike Greco of Mike’s Deli in the Bronx, say those problematic ports have caused a 400% to 500% price hike in shipments.

According to Greco, container expenses for imports such as olive oil and even canned tomatoes have risen from $4,000 to $9,000 to $12,000. As a result, he and many other local merchants have had to raise their prices.

According to Brembilla, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has added a “cherry on top” of these business-altering issues.

Ukraine used to be a world leader in sunflower oil production, but since the Russian invasion, all production has been halted.

According to Brembilla, manufacturers have resorted to substituting olive oil for sunflower oil, driving up the cost of some olive oils by as much as 40%.

Brembilla is concerned about the long-term repercussions of the bacteria on Italy and one of its most famous commodities.

“I do worry for the future that other nations will rely less and less on importing from Italy because of these things.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Discover more from Baller Alert

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Related Posts

ACLU Files New Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Mass Visa Revocations Targeting International Students
News

U.S. Hits Pause on Student Visas—Social Media Posts Could Block Your Entry

May 27, 2025

International students hoping to study in the U.S. just got hit with a major roadblock. The U.S. State Department has...

Trump Accuses Walmart of Greed After Retail Giant Hikes Prices Over Tariffs
News

When You Can’t Get In, Just Shut It Down: Trump vs Harvard

May 27, 2025

Donald Trump is turning up the heat on Harvard University in a way we’ve never seen before. According to officials,...

diddy capricorn clark
News

Diddy’s Ex-Assistant Claims She Was Kidnapped and Threatened With Death Over Jewelry Dispute

May 27, 2025

Capricorn Clark, a former music assistant-turned-brand strategist, is stepping into the spotlight in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, and her...

Nicci Gilbert
News

Nicci Gilbert Flips the Script: Issues Public Apology to Tory Lanez Over Megan Thee Stallion Case [Video]

May 27, 2025

Nicci Gilbert, best known as one-third of ’90s R&B group Brownstone, is backtracking on past comments about Tory Lanez and...

Next Post
Mother Of Tyre Sampson Calls Dismantling Of FreeFall Ride "Bittersweet"

Autopsy Concludes That Tyre Sampson Was 97 Pounds Heavier Than Amusement Park Ride Weight Limit

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Baller News

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

* indicates required

Follow Us

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Copyright 2024, Baller Alert Inc. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • The Baller Alert Show
    • Baller Alert Lists
    • Baller Alert Exclusives
    • Let Me Liv
    • Ballerific Music
    • That’s Baller
    • Fashion
    • Metaverse
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Op-Ed
    • Travel
    • Health
  • EVENTS
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Political News
  • en español
%d