We don't buy olive oil, fortunately. I live on the Mediterranean and my mother produces it. Olive oil is about 7x more expensive than regular/industrial/cookin

We don't buy olive oil, fortunately. I live on the Mediterranean and my mother produces it. Olive oil is about 7x more expensive than regular/industrial/cooking oil, but even on the Mediterranean, there's massive fraud. People are always looking for reliable and trusted sources to buy their olive oil. They also won't shy away from asking you to give them some if they know you have an olive grove or something. It's something I didn't understand until recently because good quality olive oil was always available and I took it for granted to just pour it (we use quite a lot of it. And no, I'm not overweight). People who have small groves will produce for their own consumption and that of their close relatives and friends. They might sell some but it's not for the money, and they do so with reluctance buyers don't understand. From the buyer's perspective: I'm paying you 7x what cooking oil costs! From the seller's perspective: For the effort that goes into it? I'd rather eat it or give it for free. It's not something to make money off of. The supplier will sell it because they're embarrassed to say no to that person and that person has refused to take it for free. So they pay and think the supplier is happy. When they come for more, they'll probably hear that the supplier has no olive oil left even if it's a lie because even at that price, in their mind they gave it for free (it's precious that way). Olives are great. You can also use the solid byproducts of the pressing process as combustible. It makes a great fire. The process also produces a dark substance that is heavier than oil and has a divine taste with salt and bread.