The Ministry of Agriculture issued a statement calling on citizens to adhere to good agricultural practices during the olive picking, packing, and transportation operations to the presses, pointing out that the picking process is considered one of the basic stages in the olive production cycle, because it has a direct impact on the quantity and quality of the oil, and on the health and growth of the trees. The Ministry called on citizens to choose the appropriate harvest date, noting that it affects the quantity and quality of the oil. She explained that green fruits usually contain smaller amounts of oil and are characterized by high quality, while the amount of oil increases as maturity advances, and its quality may decline when harvesting is delayed. She added that it is possible to adopt manual harvesting, or use combs, or appropriate mechanical harvesting methods, while ensuring the safety of the fruits and branches. She stressed the necessity of completely refraining from using sticks, as they cause damage to fruits and breakage of new growth, which negatively affects the productivity of trees in subsequent seasons. She pointed out the necessity of preserving the integrity and freshness of the fruits, emphasizing avoiding running over or cutting them during harvesting and collecting, and not mixing the harvested fruits with the fruits that had previously fallen on the ground, in order to preserve the quality of the resulting oil. The Ministry recommended the use of ventilated plastic cages for packing olives and transporting them from the field to the press, as they ensure ventilation and reduce pressure on the fruits. It also called for avoiding the use of bags, as they cause the fruits to pile up, heat up, and sweat as a result of poor ventilation, which leads to damage and a decline in quality. The Ministry of Agriculture called on all farmers and workers in the sector to adhere to these guidelines, in a way that contributes to preserving the quality of Lebanese olive oil, preserving trees, and ensuring the safety of workers during the harvest season.