One of my favorite things about being a photographer is how we get to see so many things on the inside of Tunisia. This year we've done a lot of manufacturing photography, we've seen how cars and airplanes are made at least in part, here in Tunisia. This week we got a really beautiful opportunity to do some photography for Ruspina, a 100 year-old Tunisian olive oil manufacturer.
Every time I get outside the capital city I breathe. Fresh air and a simpler way of life; I feel people are grounded and know where they stand in their community. This was no exception. Our job was to document how olive oil is produced by Ruspina so we started the day with some lovely ladies who pick the olives from the fields. When we arrived they were having a picnic together under the trees. They got a huge kick out of being our models: I think several of them had to be in their late 70s, still at work in the fields.
Every time I get outside the capital city I breathe. Fresh air and a simpler way of life; I feel people are grounded and know where they stand in their community. This was no exception. Our job was to document how olive oil is produced by Ruspina so we started the day with some lovely ladies who pick the olives from the fields. When we arrived they were having a picnic together under the trees. They got a huge kick out of being our models: I think several of them had to be in their late 70s, still at work in the fields.
It is the end of the olive season, which starts in October/November so these women are making the final gleanings from the fields. After the olives are gathered they are transported the the factory about 10 minutes away where they are cleaned and pressed, a still relatively simple process.
From here it is pressed into the olive oil and then filtered. The oil is actually really a beautiful thing. I was so intrigued to watch it bottled.
It was all prepared and bottled in the same place, just minutes from the field were the olives were picked. One of the sad things about Tunisian olive oil is the vast majority of it is sold to Italy and Spain in bulk and re-bottled as Spanish or Italian olive oil simply because Tunisian olive oil production is not well known. Ruspina is unique in that they are working hard to promote Tunisian olive oil as a Tunisian product, tied to the history and tradition of this country. I know what brand I'll be buying at the grocery store after this lovely day out...I know the smiling faces and the work that is going into each bottle of Ruspina.
Yum! I wish they sold this brand here! I was reading an article about olive oil in the states, and how many olive oils are being diluted with other oils. Totally bummed me out. I have 2 types of olive oil I bought in the fridge to see if what I have is actual olive oil.
ReplyDeleteHumm....I will try to find out what brands you can get from here in the USA...probably organic is good? This brand is going to go into France, although as I said, most Tunisian olive that is sold to the USA is sold in bulk and repackaged so I guess you have no control at that point what goes into it. Maybe I can come and visit you and bring some. Thanks for your comments girl...really encourages me to keep going on this one.
ReplyDelete