Olives grow ripe during this season. They lose their green color owing to the increase in oil content and the decrease in water.
It is also during this period that lack of water and nutrients can seriously affect the crop, because the growth and ripening of the fruit require a constant supply of minerals and other substances.
Recent studies have shown a strict correlation between the Autumn vegetation and the tree's productivity in the following year. In the period, between the end of September and the first half of October, green table olives are harvested.
 

Soil treatment
The soil surrounding the plant must be treated without damaging surface roots, therefore at a maximum depth of 20 cm (7.8 in). This operation allows the burying of fertilizer and the preparation of the soil to receive rainwater and to maintain humidity as long as possible. The consequent elimination of infesting weeds helps the plant and prepares the soil for harvesting, especially when methods such as ground collection or nets are used.
A wood and iron plow - Western Liguria, 19th century
This is the simplest and most traditional type of plow, almost wholly made of wood, with few parts in wrought or cast iron, such as the plowshare.

Harvesting table olives
These are often gathered unripe, when the pit is already hard, the skin is still green (only one type of olive, the "leucoparca", does not contain chlorophyll and remains white), and the pulp consistency starts to decrease.
The olives must be picked off the branches one by one, very carefully, to avoid damage or pressure that might spoil their look and quality; then they are arranged in thin layers in suitable containers.
A worker can gather 25-35 Kg (55-77 lb.) of olives per hour, according to the cultivar and the size of the fruit, that is generally bigger than that of oil olives.
The black table olives are gathered when fully ripe with similar methods or mechanically, owing to the fact that they are more easily picked than the green ones. 

Hand-picking of olives - Detail of an olive grove in Venafro, 19th century
Olive trees were one of the most characteristic, exotic and fascinating features of Italy for travelers of past centuries. Olive groves offered an ideal background for the typical costumes of the olive growing regions; the costumes and harvesting activities were favorite subjects for rural scenes.