Is olive oil mainly from the pits or from the flesh of the fruit? I
>have been looking for that info but have found mainly info on where to
>buy the stuff and not its original source. If you could settle that I
>will be indebted.
>
>Thank you
>Remco deJong


Hi Remco,

Olive oil is mainly from the flesh and not the pits. Pits usually
contain about 2-4% of the oil content of the olive. 96-98% of the
oil comes from the flesh.

Not all olive varieties (there are around 600 varieties in the
world) yield the same amount of oil. Some olives are basically
for canning or pickling only since it contains very little oil (about
6-8% of gross weight). Other olive varieties like the Mission and
the Surri contain a higher percentage up to 35% in some cases
depending on the soil, year, and harvest time.

I hope I answered your question as much as I know. If I can help
with any other questions, please don't hesitate to write.