Olive oil pressing for viewing

Visitors to Gozo will have the opportunity to see the fascinating process of olive oil pressing in Nadur tomorrow.

The event forms part of this year's MED Fringe 2003, the fringe festival complementing Mediterranea 2003.

During this event, Ta' Kenuna tower, a defence tower with a fascinating history and offering stunning views of the Maltese archipelago, will be open to the public.

Olive tree cultivation and the olive pressing industry in Malta dates back, at least, to the times of the Romans. The numerous place names and the ancient sites and utensils used by this industry that survive to this day are proof that the oil industry in the Maltese islands was very strong.

The olive pressing activity has been revived in recent years. Although this time the utensils used are modern state of the art machines, their produce is the same top quality product that Malta was renowned for in Roman times.

Nadur council is aware of the positive effect such an industry has on the income of the farmer, the environment and the tourist industry and it has embarked on a programme with the aim of making olive oil production viable.

This programme is spread over four years and includes the planting of thousands of olive trees and the production of olive oil. Over 1,000 trees will be distributed to farmers. For the first time, oil extraction from freshly picked olives will also take place during this activity.

Tomorrow evening there will be a Feast of Maltese Food and Wine at Palazzo Palina Hotel Ta' Cenc, followed by Monday's 'The Art of the Temples' lecture by Dr David Trump, followed by site visit and Etnika concert at Ggantija Temples.