Temperature Impacts on Olive Oil

In July of 2023, the average high for every single day was above 85 degrees, exceeding the maximum optimal temperature at which olive trees can survive.

Temperature in Athens, July 2023

However, in July of 2013, only a mere decade ago, the average high for each day ranged from 81 to 83 degrees.

Temperature in Athens, July 2013

This is a stark contrast, which only occurred in the timespan of 10 years. Additionally, the highs of each day in July of 2023 reached temperatures of 104 degrees, while the highs from a decade ago never reached over 95 degrees.

Clearly, the average temperature in the summers of Greece has risen a substantial amount, and although it may not seem to be a large jump, olive trees today struggle in the summer to stay alive and produce olives, as the weather has become too extreme to support them. More specifically, the possible extreme highs of 2023 compared to 2013 have jumped significantly due to the rise in climate change, making it more difficult to produce olives and thereby produce olive oil.

This gradual yet impending change has led to spikes in the price of olive oil around the world, a direct result of its thinning availability. This affects not only locals in Greece, but many others all around the world, depending on olive oil for all kinds of uses. This inflation in its price has caused many around the world to no longer have access to olive oil, due to its high demand and high price.