Cultivating Biodiversity at High Altitude: Between Resistance, Beauty and Truth.
In a time when agriculture tends to standardization, Arcaverde chooses the most difficult path: protecting biodiversity, harvesting at high altitude, producing excellence. Maria Grazia Barone, founder and soul of the company, tells us about a vision that intertwines culture, landscape and ethical choice.

How was Arcaverde born and what is the connection with the territory?

It all started with a deep passion for the olive tree, a frugal and generous plant. Cultivating in Cerchiara di Calabria, on the eastern side of Pollino, was a challenge, but also a declaration of identity: we wanted to defend the historic landscapes threatened by abandonment and tell, through oil, an authentic Calabria.

Yours is a high altitude production. How much does it affect the quality?

Very much so. The temperature ranges, the mountain air and the Ionian Sea breezes slow down the ripening and concentrate the aromas. Cultivating here means accepting greater efforts and costs, but also obtaining unique oils, with complex aromatic profiles and a strong territorial imprint.

How much does hillside harvesting weigh on time, costs and manpower?

A lot. We can't use machines, the slopes are steep, the logistics are complicated. Plus, depopulation makes it difficult to find labor. But every year, with the help of a few trusted people in the area, we carry on with this choice with conviction.

How do you communicate the real value of such a “different” oil?

Through storytelling, tasting and direct comparison. Those who choose us do so consciously: they are looking for an oil that is not only good, but that has a meaning, a connection with the land and with those who look after it.

You have recovered forgotten cultivars: what prompted you to do so?

We were pioneers: at the end of the 90s, when no one was talking about biodiversity, we chose local varieties that had resisted over the centuries, ignored by nurseries but perfectly adapted to our environment. This is where the name “Arcaverde” comes from: a small Ark of olive trees that protects living memories.

How does oil change with these ancient varieties?

Each variety has a precise sensory imprint, which our customers recognize over time. The oils are different every year, but always authentic, harmonious and deeply linked to the terroir.

Is it difficult to reintroduce these varieties into the production system?

Yes. They have low yields, little availability of plants and little knowledge on the part of the market. But precisely for this reason they are unique. They are not for everyone: they speak to those seeking a deep connection with the territory.

What are the distinctive notes of your oils?

Balance and complexity. Each oil expresses the character of the variety: the Spezzanese with notes of artichoke, the Grossa di Cassano with hints of tomato leaf, the Blend with a delicate bouquet of herbs, apple and violet. No year is the same as the previous one.

What do the awards you received represent?

Not just a milestone, but a confirmation: small businesses like ours can compete with the big ones if they work with consistency, rigor and passion. Every recognition is a stimulus to continue, an encouragement for those who work with us.

Can you tell us about the OBLIO project?

OBLIO is an olive grove on a high hill, overlooking the Ionian Sea. A wild place where we let nature dictate the times. We intervene as little as possible: we only harvest if there is fruit, without forcing. The oil that is born is a pure story of the place and the seasons. The bottles will be numbered, because every year is different, every taste is an unrepeatable encounter.

What is missing from the culture of oil in Italy today?

There is a lack of awareness. Too much distance between city and countryside, too much approximation in communication. More training and more depth are needed. Those who produce, sell or talk about oil must also feel like educators and custodians.

A message to those who buy EVO oil at the supermarket, without asking questions?

“Not all oils are the same. You can recognize a real extra virgin by its scent, its flavor… and its history.”

Arcaverde is the story of a Calabria that does not give up. That chooses hard work, slowness, value. And that gives back to oil its deepest meaning: an agricultural, cultural, political act.