Adriatic Countries Propose Joint “Jewels of the Adriatic” Olive Oil Brand

Olive oil producers and experts from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro have proposed a joint regional quality brand called “Jewels of the Adriatic,” aimed at giving the Eastern Adriatic’s small but award-winning producers greater visibility in international markets. The proposal emerged from the first international Eastern Adriatic panel, held at the Herz Olive Fest in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and confirmed by organizers on August 31, 2026.

A small region punching above its weight

Combined, the four countries produce barely half a percent of the world’s olive oil each year: Croatia yields roughly 3,500 to 4,000 tons annually, Slovenia around 500 tons, Montenegro several hundred tons, and Bosnia and Herzegovina approximately 200 to 300 tons, according to figures presented at the panel. That leaves the Eastern Adriatic far behind major producing countries such as Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Italy, the United States, and Portugal. Despite the modest volume, the region has posted strong recent results at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, with Croatia finishing second worldwide in total awards, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (16 awards) and Montenegro (nine awards) both recording their best results to date.

An umbrella seal, not a blended brand

Panelists, including Marko Ivanković of the Federal Agromediterranean Institute in Mostar, Rok Babič and Karlo Kopjar of Slovenia’s Institute for Olive Growing at the Science and Research Centre Koper, and Ćazim Alković, Montenegro’s representative to the International Olive Council, stressed that “Jewels of the Adriatic” would not blend oils from different countries into one product. Instead, it would function as a shared quality seal on labels that also state the country of origin, such as “Jewels of the Adriatic – Croatia,” backed by verified extra virgin standards, full traceability, and QR codes linking each bottle to its grove, harvest year, and producer. Organizers outlined four priorities going forward: favoring quality over volume, formally establishing the “Jewels of the Adriatic” seal under a cross-border body, launching a Trans-Adriatic Olive Oil Route for tourism, and building consumer education around genuine extra virgin quality. For buyers sourcing from Tunisia, now the world’s second-largest producer at roughly 500,000 tonnes a year, the initiative is a reminder that established, high-volume origins remain the default for reliable supply, even as small regions compete instead on story, rarity, and traceability.

FAQ

What is the “Jewels of the Adriatic” brand? It is a proposed regional quality seal for olive oil from Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, designed to give small, high-quality producers greater visibility abroad while keeping each country’s own origin label on the bottle.

Why did Adriatic producers propose a joint brand? Individually, each country produces too little olive oil and has too small a marketing budget to compete for shelf space in major global markets, so producers want to pool their reputation for quality and awards under one recognizable seal.

Source: Olive Oil Times