Thanks to the generosity of California FarmLink, we received a consultation with olive expert Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne. Alexandra is the founder of CalAthena, co-founder of the new international non-profit tradegroup Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA), and an expert in olives, olive oil and the global olive oil market. I learned that our ranch in the Capay Valley is well situated to produce excellent table olives and olive oil (and pretty much any other Mediterranean products we like). I also learned that I have a lot to learn! Alexandra provided specific and detailed guidance on branding, marketing, local resources, relevant books, olive varieties and opportunities for self-education.

Of course, we at Buy The Farm all love to eat olives and cook with olive oil. Not only are they delicious, but they are very good for you. Producing olives is a big step from enjoying them. It’s not as easy as sticking some trees and the ground and waiting a couple of years. The Zanklin family had some hands-on practice harvesting olives at Soul Food Farm in Solano County a few years ago. l am lucky that my father gets his olive oil directly from his family trees in Greece. In 2001, I was fortunate to be able to observe the milling process and visit the orchard, which contains trees that are hundreds of years old.

My father’s trees, like many throughout the Mediterranean, are not irrigated, but are spaced widely to allow robust root systems to gather water. Because sustainability is one of our guiding visions for the ranch, we will develop a management system that balances production and limited water use without sacrificing quality. We also want to incorporate inter-cropping, using the space between the trees for growing vegetables and grazing the sheep. Finally, we want to enjoy our peaceful grove of silver-leaved trees for their pure aesthetic value.

Producing excellent olives and oil is not just about growing the trees. How and when the fruits are harvested, how they are processed and the packaging materials are important factors. Like all of the food we plan to produce from our ranch, we will be clear and open about what we do with our consumers. We look forward to having table olives and olive oil to enjoy and share in a few years. Until then, enjoy your olives and look for the EVA label on the oil you buy!