ŽUTICA
Country of origin: Montenegro
Use: Dual purpose (table and oil)
Synonyms: “Bjelica”; “Bjeliza”; “Žutica”
Distribution: 1 continent
Europe
Montenegro’s Adriatic coast: a long-established coastal cultivar
In Europe, Žutica is directly associated with Montenegro’s olive landscapes, especially the coastal belt, where it is reported as widely present in the Bar area and, more broadly, across Mediterranean coastal zones.
This is a cultivar defined by territorial continuity rather than by wide geographic spread. In practice, orchard management often has to account for strong alternate bearing and for high fruit retention, which makes harvesting more timing-dependent and less “automatic” in operational terms.
In coastal settings exposed to wind and winter events, place-based reading remains essential: the cultivar is described as locally appreciated, yet sensitive to cold and to olive fly pressure. Within the TGoP narrative, Žutica helps frame an Adriatic Europe where the olive tree consolidates through compatibility between practices, landscape, and communities.
Agronomic and commercial considerations: A very old variety, its presence in the Montenegrin littoral dates to ancient times. It is a vigorous and productive cultivar with a marked tendency to alternate production. It flowers early and is self-compatible. It enters production early and matures in the intermediate period. It has a high resistance to fruit detachment, which makes mechanised harvesting difficult. Strong winds or snow can break its branches easily. It is a popular cultivar among local consumers. It is moderately susceptible to olive leaf spot (Cycloconium oleaginum) but sensitive to attacks from olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) and low temperatures. It is resistant to olive knot (Pseudomonas savastanoi) and olive anthracnose (Gleosporium olivarum).