The Sociedad Cooperativa Agrícola de primer grado Almazaras de la Subbética, created in July 2007, is the result of the merger of two prestigious and experienced cooperatives: S.C.A. Virgen del Castillo, founded in 1954, and S.C.A. Olivarera Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, founded in the early 1960s, both with more than 50 years of experience in the sector and with an upward trajectory recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of their olive juices.
Composed of more than 4,000 members representing an olive grove area of some 15,000 hectares, Almazaras de la Subbética has managed to overcome the obstacles of the rugged terrain of its plantations and the higher costs of tilling and harvesting. With the modernisation of cultivation techniques, the use of small, modern machinery and a commitment to maximum quality, it has been able to adapt tradition and technology to the high quality standards demanded by the most demanding consumers. It currently has two production and storage centres: the central one in Carcabuey and a second centre in Priego de Córdoba.
At the Almazaras de la Subbética facilities, between 50 and 70 million kilos of olives are milled, depending on weather conditions and the year in question. From this, between 11 and 15 million litres of oil are produced, 80 percent of which are classified as extra virgin olive oil, which gives an idea of the zeal and rigour with which all stages of the process are carried out: cultivation, harvesting, transport, reception, cleaning, milling and storage. Within the varieties of olives that are milled in the cooperative, 60% of the total oil production comes from olives of the picuda variety, 25% from the hojiblanca variety and the rest from the picual and arbequina varieties.
Almazaras de la Subbética has received many awards and recognitions throughout its history. Not only for the quality of its olive oils, but also for its track record of continuous improvement, innovation and respect for the environment. With more than 100 annual awards of recognised prestige at national and international level in the last decade, it is worth highlighting its privileged position in the world rankings of the best olive oils in the world, which group together the evaluations of the most prestigious international competitions.
