LA RIOJANA LAUNCHES ARGENTINA’S FIRST FAIRTRADE ORGANIC OLIVE OIL

La Riojana has already got a reputation for being one of the world’s leading producers of Fairtrade certified wines, however it is probably a lesser-known fact that La Riojana co-operative also produces over 4.5 million kilos of olives annually and has been growing olives, alongside wine grapes, in its olive groves in the Famatina Valley for over 50 years.

Now, seven years on from receiving Fairtrade certification for its olive oil, making the co-operative Argentina’s and Latin America’s first Fairtrade certified olive producer, La Riojana is very excited to become the first producer from Argentina to be launching a Fairtrade certified olive oil in the UK.

The dry, sunny conditions found in La Rioja’s Famatina Valley, where the olives are grown, provide the ideal environment for organic cultivation and for producing naturally healthy olives.

The product, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a fruity blend of premium olives, including Arbequina, Arauco, Manzanilla among other olive varieties, is being sold in 25cl bottles (RRP £2.95), currently retailing in over 400 Co-op stores nationwide. 

Export Director for La Riojana, Walter Carol, commented “This is a real triumph for us as we have been working on this new product for a while and we are delighted that after all the hard work, we can finally see our Fairtrade olive oil on the Co-op shop shelves in the UK. Everyone who buys a bottle will be helping contribute to the Fairtrade projects that we are carrying out in support of our local communities in the Famatina Valley. Projects such as building a new water tank, a secondary school and more recently a health centre.”