Shipping Olive Oil

I can think of two possible explanations, but I don't know whether either applies here:

• The Italian postal system used to have a dreadful reputation for losing (stealing from?) packages. It was so bad that guide books suggested mailing even postcards from the Vatican Post Office instead. That situation may have been resolved by now, or more people may be using private shipping companies. But that is quite an expensive proposition for a heavy, low-cost product like olive oil.

• Package handling in the US is very heavily automated. Fragile items have to be packed very well, or they will not survive. That incurs additional costs for labor and for packing materials. Perhaps the olive oil folks don't realize what happens when automated equipment gets hold of liquids in glass bottles, or even in thin aluminum containers. Maybe they've had a lot of breakage complaints.

Would you consider a different sort of food product that would be easier/cheaper to ship? Dried herbs and spices, dried mushrooms, sea salt... Even balsamic vinegar might be more manageable, because the very best stuff is sold in small containers, though fragility would still be an issue. Dried products are so lightweight you could probably take them home in your suitcase.

Hi Edward,

Is the olive oil that you are intending on shipping back home exclusive to a region in Sicily?

a lot of specialty food markets in the United States do sell Sicilian olive oil right from Sicily.

is it possible for you to check or have the store check to see if they sell that particular brand in the United States?

Places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods sell unique and exclusive brands of olive oil and vinegars and wines that you would not necessarily get in a regular supermarket in the States.

Did a "curious" Google search - in general, it appears there are quite a few vendors/distributors who sell and ship (authentic) Sicilian Olive Oil. I don't know the brand you want to ship, but it may be worth it to check it out. Otherwise, as I mentioned above, ask the store if they have a companion distributor somewhere close that will ship the olive oil. *

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Thanks for your information.