Interpretation centers for olive culture in Andalusia: delight and discontent in promoting agri-food heritage

Abstract

Spain witnessed the emergence of a large number of Cultural Heritage Interpretation Centers in the late 1990s and the beginning of the new millennium. This phenomenon has particularly affected Andalusia, where the emphasis on such equipment has fallen on the world of olive cultivation, a millenary productive activity whose social, political and cultural nature takes on a transcendental character. This movement is connected with the discourse around the quality and valorization of healthy food, mainly because olive oil consists of one of the stars of the so-called Mediterranean diet. However, opinions are divided as to the role played by these structures and the way they are managed. The purpose of this article was to explore the nuances, as well as the convergences and contradictions of this process in the light of concrete reality. The research was based on conducting in-depth interviews with various social actors linked to this sector within the provinces of Córdoba and Jaén.