The Acar family are classic multi-entrepreneurs, a common sight in Turkey. In addition to a travel agency and livestock farm, they also run a large olive mill and have their own fields. Both are fully certified organic. They come from the small town of Salihli, on a lowland west of the city of Izmir. The land is vast, the soil fertile, and rainfall plentiful. This makes this region one of Turkey's up-and-coming agricultural regions. Organic farming, in particular, is becoming increasingly common there. Unlike the coastal cultivation regions, the area here does not compete with tourism. As a result, more and more olive trees are being planted. With every visit, the landscape becomes greener.
The family's fields are located approximately 2 km from the mill. They are situated on a slight hill, offering beautiful views of the lowlands. The family is clearly committed to quality, investing the majority of its income each year to achieve consistently high quality. The fields are cultivated year-round, but fruit fly control is omitted here, as organic farming is inefficient in this area.
The mill itself even has two completely separate lines, one for conventional and one for organic olives. This virtually eliminates any mixing. There are few other mills in the region, but a growing number of farmers are having their olives pressed by the Acar family. Instead of receiving any money, a portion of the oil is retained as a pressing fee. A mill can quickly lose the trust of an entire region. If even rumors circulate that the mill is retaining more oil than it is entitled to, it is consistently avoided by producers. During peak season, around mid-December, both lines operate around the clock. After pressing, the olives are stored in stainless steel tanks and remain there until bottling.
