The Spanish Interprofessional of Olive Pomace Oil (Oriva) has pledged 190,000 liters of pomace oil to the country’s Horeca sector (hotels, restaurants and catering) as a gesture of support in their efforts to resume post-lockdown operations.
The initiative is the result of the collaboration of 22 companies from the sector, including extractors, refiners, packers and distributors. The pomace oil distributed by Oriva will reach more than 12,500 restaurants and hotels.
See Also:Covid-19 UpdatesAs in most European countries, hotels and eateries in Spain started to gradually reopen in mid-May and are now operating with all the necessary precautions.
Spain’s Horeca sector is the largest buyer of olive pomace oil, accounting for about 70 percent of all bottled olive oil sales in the country.
“The olive sector joins the wave of solidarity with one of the sectors hardest hit by the crisis caused by Covid-19,” José Luis Maestro Sánchez-Cano, president of Oriva, said.
“We cannot remain oblivious to the difficulties of one of the sectors that is closest to us, such as Horeca,” he added.
“Extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures and that is why we have made this great effort to mobilize the maximum volume of product possible, up to 190,000 liters.”
Olive pomace oil is obtained by processing the semi-solid remains of the first extraction. The oil is then refined and blended with small quantities of extra virgin or virgin olive oil. It is largely used for frying due to its stability and neutral flavor.
Regardless of the gesture, the olive pomace oil handed out to the Horeca establishments and facilities is no panacea for their recovery, but mainly an expression of solidarity, Sánchez-Cano said.
“The goal is to be closer to one of our main partners,” he said. “If there is anything that can be learned from this crisis, it is that we need collective responses and collaborative channels.”
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