For oil, the olives have a 20% to 23% oil yield and produce an oil that is considered good quality.
As table olives, the flesh separates easily from the pit.
The tree can start bearing olives by the third year. It needs other types of olive trees to pollinate it. The olives are a pale yellow green, then turning deep black when they ripen.
Barnea Olives are being grown in Australia, Israel, Italy and New Zealand.
History Notes
Barnea Olives were developed in Israel. They were called K-18 Olives during development. The tree was bred by researchers in Israel under Professor Shimon Lavee at the Volcani Institute in Beit Dagan. The original tree was found in Kadesh Barnea region on the Sinai Desert border. The tree was bred specially for irrigated orchards and mechanised harvesting.
The tree was introduced into Australia in January 1997; New Zealand in 1995.
