The many hundreds of farmers of the
San Amador Cooperative cultivate the olive groves of Martos, a town in the province of Jaén, Southern Spain. For decades now this picturesque community has had the distinction of containing the largest area of olive trees of any municipality in the world. The Coop has bottled and shipped its classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil to consumers worldwide. Under its official trademarks, Tuccioliva and Peña de Martos, this rich, bright-green oil has captivated imaginations and palates wherever it is sold.
In
1994, the Coop undertook an important modernization of its facilities and technology and today its olives are harvested and pressed using modern, ecologically sustainable practices. The Coop now boasts more than 700 individual farmers working on close to 7,500 acres ( 3,000+ Hectares) of land, which produce an average of more than 29 million pounds (13.5 million kilos) of olives and 6.6 million pound (3 million kilos) of oil.
In 2007, the Coop introduced the Tuccioliva brand name. Tuccioliva Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been awarded prizes by various panels of expert tasters and in competitions across the globe.
You will see the words “CALIDAD CERTIFICADA,” or “
Certified Quality,” on every bottle of Tuccioliva oil. This stamp of quality, given only to Extra Virgin Olive Oils of exceptional attributes and local character, is authorized by the Agricultural and Fisheries Council of the Junta de Andalucía, a part of the administrative body that governs Southern Spain.
Olive oil from Peña de Martos is known among olive growers and consumers alike for its sweet flavor. The oil is pressed during the second half of November, from Picual olives under the strictest quality controls.