Question 1

How do I start an olive farm in Edremit, Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Begin by confirming that your land sits within the Edremit Gulf terroir — the narrow coastal strip between Mount Ida and the northern Aegean, between roughly 0 and 400 meters elevation. Test your soil for calcium and drainage; Edremit olives thrive in calcareous, free-draining loam. Plant certified Memecik or Ayvalik saplings at 6×6 meter spacing for traditional dry farming, or 5×7 for modern irrigated rows. Register your grove with the local Ziraat Odası (Chamber of Agriculture), join the regional olive cooperative, and plan your first commercial harvest for year five to seven.

Question 2

What makes the Edremit region ideal for olives?

Accepted Answer

Three factors: mild coastal winters rarely below -2°C, dry summers cooled by Aegean sea breezes, and mineral-rich volcanic and calcareous soils washed down from Mount Ida. Together they produce olives with exceptionally low acidity, high polyphenol content, and the grassy-almond aroma Edremit is famous for worldwide.

Question 3

How much land and capital do I need to start?

Accepted Answer

A viable family-scale olive farm starts around 2 hectares (roughly 5 acres), which yields 2–4 tonnes of olives at maturity. Expect a setup cost of roughly €15,000–€30,000 per hectare including saplings, irrigation, fencing and basic machinery, plus annual operating costs of €2,000–€4,000 per hectare until the grove fruits commercially in years 5–7.

Question 4

What olive varieties should I plant?

Accepted Answer

Choose varieties matched to both climate and purpose. For Edremit and the wider Aegean: Memecik and Ayvalik for dual-purpose oil and table fruit. For Greece: Koroneiki for premium oil, Kalamon for table. For Spain: Picual or Arbequina. For California and Australia: Arbequina, Frantoio and Leccino. Always plant at least two compatible varieties to improve pollination.

Question 5

How long before my olive trees start producing?

Accepted Answer

Young trees begin a light production in years 3–4 but a commercially meaningful harvest typically arrives in year 5 and peaks between years 8 and 15. Properly maintained olive trees remain productive for centuries — many of Edremit's working groves contain trees over 700 years old.

Question 6

Do olive trees need irrigation?

Accepted Answer

Traditional Mediterranean groves are dry-farmed, relying on winter rainfall stored in deep soil. Modern high-density groves use drip irrigation — typically 1,500–3,000 m³ per hectare per year in Edremit — which can double yields while maintaining oil quality if carefully managed.

How to start an olive farm — from soil to first press.

The Edremit Region: where Turkey grows its finest olives.

Six chapters to your first great harvest.

Choosing your site

Soil & drainage

Variety selection

Irrigation strategy

Pruning through the decades

Harvest & milling

Your most asked questions about starting an olive farm.