Altınözü — Land of Olives

Hatay alone carries a significant share of Türkiye's olive production, and the heart of that culture is Altınözü, the "Land of Olives" — a district where olive growing has been the main livelihood for generations and nearly every family keeps a grove. Spanning the rugged terrain along the southern border, the olive groves of Altınözü define both the geography and the daily rhythm of rural life. Olive cultivation here is not an industrial monoculture developed in recent decades; it is an ancestral practice shaped by century-old trees that have adapted to the rocky limestone hillsides, creating distinctive profiles for both regional olive oil (Hatay zeytinyağı) and traditional table olives (sofralık zeytin).

Registered local varieties

What sets Altınözü apart is varietal wealth: Halhalı, Saurani and Sarı Haşebi are this area's registered local varieties, grown alongside Gemlik and Sarıulak. Local varieties carry aromatic profiles found nowhere else — Saurani oil is known for intense fruitiness, Halhalı for its dual table-and-oil value.

The small-fruited Halhalı olive is widely celebrated across the region. When harvested green, it yields firm, flavorful brined table olives (salamuralık zeytin) that retain their crisp texture through traditional water-and-salt curing. When pressed, Halhalı produces a smooth, balanced extra virgin olive oil (natürel sızma zeytinyağı) with subtle herbal undertones. Saurani, on the other hand, is a heritage cultivar prized primarily for oil yield and sensory vigor. When gathered during the early harvest (erken hasat) period while the skins are still transitioning from green to purple, Saurani produces an assertive oil marked by distinct bitterness and peppery pungency. Sarı Haşebi and Sarıulak complement these cultivars, offering mild, buttery profiles that round out regional blending, while Gemlik plantings provide steady table olive yields across changing seasonal conditions.

A microclimate between border mountains

This high country between the Amanos range and the Syrian plateau — limestone-stony soils, dry summers — is classic Mediterranean olive terrain, stressing the tree in the way that concentrates phenolics.

The geographic position creates intense daytime heat balanced by night air descending from the surrounding heights. In this dry, stony ground, olive roots penetrate deep fissures in the limestone bedrock to reach moisture reserves. This natural water stress limits excessive fruit swelling, keeping the pulp-to-pit ratio compact and concentrating the aromatic compounds within the olive skin and flesh. However, this climate also presents distinct harvest challenges. Because ambient temperatures remain warm during the early autumn harvest, harvested olives cannot sit in sacks or open yards without rapid quality deterioration. Prolonged waiting after picking accelerates enzymatic breakdown and raises free acidity (serbest asitlik). Preserving the natural quality of Altınözü zeytinyağı requires swift transport from grove to mill and immediate cold extraction (soğuk sıkım) at controlled temperatures below 27°C.

Laboratory classification and oil grades from grove to mill

To accurately evaluate and handle lots harvested across Altınözü, we test incoming olive samples in our in-house laboratory in Düziçi. Our primary operational metric is free acidity testing, measured as the percentage of oleic acid. While our internal laboratory analysis is conducted strictly for sorting, lot classification, and commercial guidance—and does not replace an official accredited certificate—it provides an essential baseline for segregating lots based on quality and defect-free extraction.

Based on these acidity and sensory evaluations, oils are separated into distinct commercial grades:

• Natürel Sızma Zeytinyağı (Extra Virgin Olive Oil): Sourced from early harvest and sound, unbruised olives, cold-extracted promptly to maintain low free acidity (at or below 0.8%) and retain natural aromas of wild herbs, artichoke, and green almond.
• Natürel Birinci Zeytinyağı (Virgin Olive Oil): Sourced from riper mid-season or late-season harvests, offering a milder sensory profile with free acidity within standard virgin thresholds, well-suited for hot cooking and everyday culinary applications.
• Rafine Zeytinyağı (Refined Olive Oil) & Riviera Zeytinyağı: Lots that require gentle refining to eliminate high acidity or mild defects are converted into refined olive oil, then expertly blended with cold-pressed virgin oils to create riviera zeytinyağı—a heat-stable, neutral cooking oil favored in high-temperature frying.

What we source from Altınözü

• Regional oils from local varieties, graded by analysis
• Table olives for brining, led by Halhalı
• Wholesale and retail shipping across Türkiye

Our supply chain supports diverse buyer requirements across domestic and international markets. For retail olive oil (perakende zeytinyağı) and household consumption (evsel tüketim), we package regional oils in 1-liter protective glass bottles and 5-liter easy-pour tins. For professional hospitality operations—including hotels, restaurants, cafes, and catering facilities (HORECA)—we supply robust 16 kg tins that withstand demanding kitchen workflows. For commercial repackagers, food manufacturers, and industrial export buyers, we provide wholesale olive oil (toptan zeytinyağı) transported in bulk quantities of up to 25 tons via specialized food-grade transport.

Direct grower purchasing and nationwide logistics

We work directly with local farmers across Altınözü to purchase fresh crop harvests and finished olive oils. Our purchasing process is transparent: we provide free sample analysis, inspect the lot on-site, agree on pricing based on analytical grade, and finalize the transaction with clear on-site weighing and direct payment.

Get in touch

Growers: our buying page provides details on our sourcing criteria and testing procedures. Looking for this area's produce? The contact form is open for product specifications and price quotations.

Whether you require single parcels or regular shipments, orders can be placed directly via our online order system or through telephone consultations. We accept payment by bank transfer (wire/EFT) and major credit cards, providing complete individual or corporate invoicing. We deliver across all 81 provinces of Türkiye using reliable parcel cargo partners and dedicated freight logistics to ensure every container arrives in pristine condition.