Lucca is a Protected Origin Designation (DOP) on the national list approved by the Ministry of Agriculture And Forestry, whose requirements are regulated by the production discipline of the Tuscany Region.

Cultivation

The pedoclimaic and crop conditions in olive groves for the production of oil with a protected origin designation must be those specific to the production areas designed to give olives and oil the traditional characteristics qualitative requirements.

Cultural techniques:
– pruning: at least biennial periodicity in spring;
– fertilization: organic and mineral;
– soil management: weaving: surface soil processing: chemical weeding is only allowed in growing situations (terraces, excessive declicity) that preclude the use of operating machines for periodic mowing, cutting or surface earthwork. On these surfaces, treatments with single or multiple contact herbicides are allowed by operating with microdoses on weeds in the early stages of development;
– plant protection: definition of treatments, with particular regard to Bactrocera Oleae, with the application of the combat programs established by the consortium within regional regulations.

The olives must be harvested from the plant preferably with the method of “manual grazing”: no knot should be used olives collected on the ground.
However, the olive harvesting phase must be completed by the maximum deadline of 31 December each year. Live collections and processed beyond this date will not be eligible for Lucca oil production.

The maximum production of olives per hectare, per campaign for the production of olive groves for oil production, must be as follows:
– q.li olives/Ha 70 for olive groves in specialized, intensive, and intensive crops;
– 20 kg of olives per plant in other cases.
The maximum yield of oil olives for the olives production campaign of the olives to the list of protected origin “Lucca” is defined annually by the competent control body, the conservation consortium heard, and can not exceed 19.00%.

The transport of the olives must be in a way that is suitable for the perfect preservation of the fruit.
The olives collected must be stored until the milling phase in rigid and aerate containers (plastic boxes) in fresh and air-fresh rooms.
The olives must be molited within the maximum period of 2 days from harvest.

Production

The oleification operations of the PDO “Lucca” must be carried out within the production territory.
Oleification will take place using the traditional pressure method or in modern continuous or semi-continuous mills as long as they meet operational validity characteristics recognized by the competent control body. The indications regarding the maximum time and temperature of gramolation, set in 50 minutes and 28 degrees centigrade respectively, must be respected. In the case of very dry olives, dilution water can be used at a temperature of no more than 20 degrees centigrade.