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<pre>Don't panic.

Here in Umbria and Tuscany about a third of the oil is sold
privately. Estimates of the quantity are not precise as they are strictly
cash only transactions. They are between growers and well established lists
of clients (private and ristorante). Most is sold in bulk containers from 5
to 50 litre that belong to the customer. The grower and the customer both
know what is a good oil and are not concerned with extravergine labels or
other chemical analysis.

Tuscany has an average production of about half a million tonnes of
fresh olives and Umbria about 200,000 so a third of this is a significant
amount.

No doubt the big blenders would love to close this market down
through regulations but no politician would dare as the small growers are
too powerful. They are strong supporters of the Left (originally Communist
but now more centre/left) which has ruled in Tuscany and Umbria at the
regional level for the last fifty years.

On the Codex front there is increasing pressure to open up the
process which has become much to much a big manufacturers protection
system.

Cheers Brian Chatterton.
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