Thieves target the Mediterranean’s century-old olive trees
Surging olive oil prices, driven in part by two years of drought in Spain, has meant opportunity for criminals across the Mediterranean. Warehouse break-ins, dilution of premium oil with inferior product, and falsification of shipping data are on the rise in olive-growing heartlands of Greece, Spain and Italy. And perhaps worst of all: Gangs using chainsaws to steal heavily laden branches and even entire trees from unguarded groves.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Workers use electric combs to harvest olives from a tree as the sun rises in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker uses an electric comb to harvest olives from a tree in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker spreads a collection net during the harvest of olives in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker uses an electric comb to harvest olives from a tree in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Olives hang on a tree during the harvest period in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker collects olives during the harvest period in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 30. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Olives are collected during the harvest period in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Workers load olives on a van during the harvest period in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two men wait to unload olives into a loading bin at an olive oil mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man unloads olives into a loading bin as others look on at an olive oil mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A machine sprays water over the olives at an olive oil mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker unloads olives into a loading bin as others look on at an olive oil mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Neilos Papachristou, left, who runs the olive mill and nearby grove in a fourth-generation family business, stands with a worker at a machine in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A tank is filled with olive at an olive mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flamour Metaj, a worker from Albania, fills a tank with olive at an olive mill in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Monday, Oct. 23. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Konstantinos Markou, an olive grower, reveals the stump of an olive tree cut down by robbers, in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Konstantinos Markou, an olive grower, patrols his own grove, in Peania suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Oct. 31. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A plane takes off as the olive groves surround the city's international airport, in Spata suburb, east of Athens, Greece, Friday, Nov. 3. Across the Mediterranean, warm winters, massive floods, and forest fires are hurting a tradition that has thrived for centuries. Olive oil production has been hammered by the effects of climate change, causing a surge in prices for southern Europe's healthy staple.