The three harvest windows
| Window | Approximate dates | Fruit state | Style of oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early harvest | Early October to early November | Green, unripe | Intensely fruity, high pungency and bitterness, highest polyphenols |
| Normal harvest | Mid-November to end of December | Turning colour (véraison) to ripe | Balanced fruit, pepper and bitterness, standard premium EVOO |
| Late harvest | January | Fully ripe | Mild, buttery, softer aromatics, lower polyphenols |
Regional differences
Crete starts earliest. Coastal Cretan groves begin picking in early to mid-October; mountain groves follow through November and December. The Peloponnese (Messenia, Laconia) generally harvests from late October through December, with premium PDO Kalamata parcels often picked in early November.
The exact window shifts year to year with rainfall and temperature. A hot dry autumn advances harvest by two or three weeks; a wet cool autumn delays it.
Effects on flavour
Early-harvest oil is pungent and bitter, with strong grass, artichoke and herbal notes. It is a compelling premium proposition but polarising on the shelf: consumers expecting mild oil may find it too aggressive.
Normal-harvest oil is the sweet spot for most retail programmes: recognisable Greek character, balanced pepper on the finish, versatile in the kitchen.
Effects on polyphenols
Polyphenol content peaks in early-harvest oil and declines through the season. Since 2012, EU Regulation 432/2012 permits the health claim "olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress" for oils containing at least 250 mg/kg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives. If you want to make that claim on-pack, plan an early-harvest lot with a certified polyphenol analysis.
Availability through the year
Fresh new-crop oil is available from November onwards. Producers hold stock in nitrogen-blanketed stainless tanks, bottling to order through the summer. By September and October the previous crop is typically sold down, and pricing moves ahead of the new harvest. Plan first orders from a new crop for January onwards; plan reorders through spring and summer; renegotiate pricing in the September window.
Buyer planning checklist
- Confirm the crop year (harvest year) of every shipment, in writing.
- For early-harvest and high-polyphenol claims, require a certified analysis per lot.
- For long-life private-label ranges, ship in the first six months after harvest and hold shelf life 18 months from bottling.
- For gifting and premium ranges, position the harvest year on the front label.