Monastir, Tunisia
How is it produced?
Olive oil is sourced from Chile, Australia, Argentina, Peru, California, Albania, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain by Veronica Foods. They also have a mill in Tunisia. They source from small farms, which are required to utilize machinery in their mills to improve efficiency and quality.
Describe the supply chain to the store shelf in Canada:
Veronica Foods purchased oil from small farms in their country of origin, and the oil is sent to the United States by ship in flexi bags, taking 25–45 days. There it is transferred to stainless steel tanks and flavour is added before it is trucked on pallets to Gibsons, BC, Canada and retailed as Sunshine Coast Olive Oil.
What is the power balance between the producer and seller?
The purchasers of bulk oil hold the most power in the system of olive oil production.
Can you recommend changes to the system to improve the balance?
Bulk purchasers can develop direct relationships with small farms and insist on quality standards. Veronica Foods sets a good example. Twice per year they visit the mills that they purchase from, and they have developed their own certification system to ensure they sell only the highest quality olive oil.
References/Resources:
About Us: 2020 – Today. Veronica Foods.
Personal communication. Veronica Foods.
Rodríguez-Cohard, J.C., Sánchez-Martínez, J.D., and Gallego-Simón, V.J. (December 2019). Olive crops and rural development: Capital, knowledge and tradition. ScienceDirect: Regional Science Policy & Practice.