KALAMATA
Country: Greece
Purpose: Table olive
Distribution: Messenia, Laconia and Lamia represent about the 20% of the country’s olive-growing area.
Synonyms: “Aetonychalea”, “Aetonychi”, “Aetonycholia”, “Chondrolia”, “Kalamon”, “Kalamatiani”
Agronomic and commercial considerations: It is a late ripening variety and harvesting takes place when the fruit has fully completed its maturity. Although it is a dual-purpose variety, it is mainly cultivated as a black table olive. It is considered a very productive variety, even though it is alternating. The fruit is resistant to treatments and other manipulations, and can be dressed in different ways, but always as a black table olive “Greek” style. The ratio between the pulp and the seed is high and the separation between them is easy. The oil yield is medium and the product is of an outstanding quality. It offers a medium resistance to cold climates, but it doesn’t tolerate excessive hot ones. It is quite susceptible to olive leaf spot (Cycloconium oleaginum), while it is resistant to olive knot (Pseudomonas savastanoi).
