The city of Kilis (Turkey) is located in the northwestern part of the Fertile Crescent, also known as the Crescent of fertile lands. The first settlements in the history of mankind were established in this region and the first production based on agriculture and animal husbandry took place.
In excavations at Oylum Höyük, one of the largest archaeological sites in Anatolia, 4,500-year-old olive pits were found, dating from the Bronce Age. The pits show that the history of olive cultivation and olive oil in this region goes back thousands of years.
The Kilis green olive variety is completely organic, the trees do not require irrigation or fertilisers. Also it is famous for its high oil rate and high Polyphenol content, responsible for many beneficial health effects. This encouraged the residents of the region to widely cultivate olive trees and produce oil and soap out of its fruit. In Kilis province alone there are an estimated 4 million olive trees.
