Olive Oil Production in Provence

Production of olive oil by traditional methods at the stream-powered Entrevaux oil mill, Entrevaux, France, 24 February 2010.

For centuries, water-powered olive mills were central features of many provencal villages. Today, they are unable to compete with modern oil extraction plants, and village co-operatives cannot fund the necessary modernisation required in order for the oil produced to meet EEC regulations for sale. Many mills have fallen into disrepair and closed.
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Production of olive oil by traditional methods at the stream-powered Entrevaux oil mill, Entrevaux, France, 24 February 2010.

For centuries, water-powered olive mills were central features of many provencal villages. Today, they are unable to compete with modern oil extraction plants, and village co-operatives cannot fund the necessary modernisation required in order for the oil produced to meet EEC regulations for sale. Many mills have fallen into disrepair and closed.

The Entrevaux mill is kept running by a group of local people, keen to keep this rural tradition alive. Olive oil produced is used for home consumption only.
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