By Lisa Radinovsky from Greek Liquid Gold.
In the village of Sigri on the island of Lesvos in Greece, Sigri Olive Mill stands as a testament to a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and environmental stewardship. After restoring biodiversity to once-barren land by the sea, the Sigri Olive Mill team produces award-winning extra virgin olive oil that showcases the fruit of a revived ecosystem.
From the beginning, Sigri Olive Mill has integrated sustainability into its core mission and vision. The initial goal was to transform a bare, eroded, desertified peninsula into an oasis of healthy soil and biodiversity. By planting tens of thousands of trees, building terraces, and using regenerative agricultural practices on Faros Estate, they succeeded.
Regenerating biodiversity through reforestation and sustainable development
We see an example of the true meaning of sustainable development in the sculpting of terraces on a barren hillside on Faros Estate. Terracing helps prevent root system diseases, retains rainwater, prevents soil erosion, and makes trees accessible for harvest and care. In Sigri, the trees planted on terraces grew faster than the ones on flat land.
Over the years, it became evident that the olive was the most adaptable species for conditions on the peninsula. So in addition to 40,000 other trees, the Sigri Olive Mill team planted 50,000 olive trees from 12 different native, Greek, and international varieties. Local flora now flourish among the trees. Herbs such as thyme, oregano, and lavender thrive alongside other wild plants, acting like a sponge to prevent soil erosion and flooding. Thanks to environmentally friendly practices, the plants attract many bees, as well as other insects and wild animals.
The team at Faros Estate does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides–only organic treatments. They grow nitrogen-fixing legumes, cut them, and leave them on the soil. They mix Posidonia Oceanica seaweed, organic manure, shredded branches, leaves, and olive mill byproducts into their own compost to enhance soil fertility. Their data-driven agriculture includes measurements of soil moisture and consultation of their weather station to avoid overwatering.
These efforts have improved the microclimate in western Lesvos and contributed significantly to carbon offsetting and temperature regulation. The Faros Estate now counterbalances the carbon footprint created by 2,000 people. This evidence of the human capacity to create impactful environmental change has been recognized on a European Commission website.
Combining tradition with innovative technology at Sigri Olive Mill
On that breathtaking 200-hectare peninsula, a state-of-the-art olive mill and bottling facility plays a crucial role in producing and storing the Oleve brand extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that wins awards at international competitions each year. After harvesting with a tree-friendly vibrating technique, the olives are immediately taken to the mill for cold extraction in modern machinery under optimal conditions.
This milling machinery automatically recognizes the degree of ripeness and the variety of the olives, making appropriate adjustments. The entire process takes place in a closed circuit at a carefully controlled low temperature, using very little water, with the inert gas nitrogen used to eliminate oxygen. This enables the preservation of the valuable nutrients, aromas, and flavors in the olive oil. The EVOO is filtered with ecological paper filters before storage to remove any impurities. All stages of production take place in one location.
Sigri Olive Mill can process 75 tons of olives per day, with a total storage volume of 300,000 liters. Its bottling capacity is 1,600 liters per hour. All processes are monitored and controlled digitally. Internationally recognized certifications such as BRCGS, IFS, and ISO 22005, as well as FDA approval, ensure that every Oleve EVOO product meets rigorous quality and safety requirements.
Oleve brand extra virgin olive oils
Not a misspelling of “Olive” but a carefully crafted set of allusions, “Oleve” combines “Ol” from the Greek word for “all” with “Eve” from the English name of the first woman in the Bible. The brand name thus alludes to the deep, eternal connection between humans and all the rest of creation, between humanity and nature. For millennia, the olive tree has stood as a testament to this connection.
The creators of the Oleve brand recognize this. Oleve extra virgin olive oils are crafted from sustainably produced, organically grown olives, providing consumers with the best nature can offer. Choices range from Oleve Early Harvest EVOO, which is especially rich in health-boosting phenols, to Faros Estate and Special Selection EVOOs, Monocultivar EVOOs, and the aromatic RAYS collection. With their range of bold, authentic flavors offering something for everyone (from fruitier to more bitter and pungent), these oils celebrate the heritage of Lesvos Island while catering to health-conscious and environmentally conscious consumers worldwide.
For the health-conscious, Oleve’s RMD (Remedy) EVOO elevates both health and culinary creations even more with a premium ultra-high phenolic extra virgin olive oil. With over 1,000 mg/kg of natural phenols, a high content of vitamin E, oleic acid, and squalene, Oleve RMD is not just an olive oil; it is a superfood. Daily consumption of 20g (2 tablespoons) can offer multiple health benefits when combined with a balanced diet and lifestyle.
Sigri Olive Mill and Oleve as inspiration
Oleve Kids PLAY is a colorful box (with a handle) that contains a 100ml bottle of premium organic EVOO and a set of colorful stickers children can use to decorate their bottle (or any other surface). The box opens up to reveal a photo of the gorgeous landscape of Faros Estate’s peninsulas full of olive trees next to the deep blue sea. The stickers in the box feature animals, plants, and farm elements from the Estate. The hands-on activity they enable can make healthy eating interesting, while inspiring conversations about biodiversity and sustainability.
As founder Antonis Tirpintiris explained during a presentation at Yale School of Public Health, “we can restore nature where it is destroyed and create ecosystems even in deserted places.” Sigri Olive Mill and Oleve are beacons of quality, sustainability, and innovation for EVOO production worldwide. Through their unwavering commitment to excellence, their diverse range of flavorful, healthful products, and their dedication to environmental stewardship, they have set a new standard in the industry.
*Originally published on Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (greekliquidgold.com). See that site for recipes with olive oil, photos from Greece, agrotourism and food tourism suggestions, and olive oil news and information.
Dining and Cooking