California Olives

California produces 99-100% of olive & oils sold in the U.S.

Olives have been enjoyed for at least seven thousand years. Native to the Mediterranean, their popularity quickly spread from Crete to Egypt, Greece, Palestine, and Asia Minor. In the 15th and 16th centuries, olives were introduced to America by the Spanish and Portuguese. olivecouncil.com

Would it surprise you to know that the majority of imported, extra virgin olive oils tested by UC Davis did not meet labeling standards? In the book, "Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil," author Tom Mueller explains what it takes to be considered a quality olive oil, and why so many fail. The UC Davis study noted that failing oils were hydrolyzed, oxidized, of poor quality, and/or adulterated with cheaper refined oils. Unfortunately, their study is five years old. While it did show only one of three California olive oils tested was not up to standards, there's no doubt that you'll discover exceptional products at the source. California is the olive oil capital of the nation and a great place to develop a passion for the healthier alternative to canola, soy oil, margarine and butter.

Olive trees grow easily in California's Mediterranean climate where olive oil production sometimes starts as a side business. Central Coast Olea Farms owned by French couple Yves and Clotilde Julien, who also sell antiques, seems more about passion for wholesome foods and tastes. Like many small growers in the Central Valley or on the Central Coast, they invite the public to visit, sample and purchase direct. You'll also find their products at local farmers markets.

To explore many olive oils in a single day or weekend, check out an olive festival. Once you find a product you like the all-purpose oil replaces vegetable oil in cakes, cookies and French fries, and replaces butter or margarine in grilled cheese sandwiches, baked potatoes and other foods.

Some olive oil sources:

Alta Cresta Orchard
Coratina
Italian Blend
Tuscan Blend
altacresta.com

Apollo Olive Oil
Barouni Organic
Coratina Varietal Organic
Mistral Blend
Sierra Organic
info@ApolloOliveOil.com
apollooliveoil.com

Araujo Estate Winery Olive Oil
araujoestate.com

Bari Olive Oil
Arbequina
Arbosana
Koroneiki
Mission
Organic Arbequina
Organic Arbosana
barioliveoil.com

Bava Family Grove
farmerphil@sbcglobal.net
bavafamilygrove.com

Bella Sun Luci
mooneyfarms.com

Berkeley Olive Grove 1913
Organic Mission
Mission Gold
Mission Reserve
Mission Classic
berkeleyolivegrove.com

Big Paw Olive Oil
bigpawgrub.com

Bluebird Olive Oil
christopherkieffer@hughes.net

Bozzano Olive Ranch
A2 Organic
Bosana Organic
Coratina
Generations
Leccino Organic
Maurino Organic
Taggiasca
Toscano
Triple A
bozzanoranch.com

Butte View Olive Company
Manzanillo
Mission
Tuscan Blend
butteview.com

B.R. Cohn Winery
California Blend
Unfiltered California Blend
brcohnoliveoil.com

California Gold Olive Oil Company
Proprietor's Blend
Estate Arbequina
Proprietor's Blend
californiagoldoliveoil.com

California Olive Ranch
Arbequina
Arbosana
Koroneiki
Miller's Blend
cal-olive.com

Calivirgin-Coldani Olive Ranch
calivirgin.com

Capay Gold Olive Oil
dwrobbins3@sbcglobal.net

Casa Rosa Farm
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
casarosafarm.com

Clif Family Farm
cliffamilywinery.com

Cloud 9 Orchard
cloud9orchard.com

Copperopolis Olive Oil Company
Leccino
Copper Cobalt Tuscan Blend
copperopolisoliveoilcompany.com

Corning Olive Oil Company
corningoliveoil.com

Corto Olive Oil
Arbequina
Arbosana
Koroneiki
Miller's Blend
corto-olive.com

Cumae Ranch
Estate EVOO
805-237-8489

DeOliveira Olive Oil Company
209-559-9078

Dogtown Orchards
dogtownorchards.com

Enzo Olive Oil
Organic Arbosana
Organic Koroneiki
enzooliveoil.com

Fandango Olive Oil
Arbequina
Koroneiki
fandangooliveoil.com

Figueroa Farms
Balzana
shawn@figueroafarms.com
figueroafarms.com

Frantoio Grove
frantoiogrove.com

Grove 45
grove45.com

Grumpy Goats Farm
Organic Coratina
Organic Pendolino
Organic Picual
grumpygoatsfarm.com

Hillstone Olive Oil Company
Organic Arbequina
Organic Koroneiki
hillstoneoliveoil.com

Hundred Acre Olive Oil
hundredacreoliveoil.com

Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company
Arbosana
Frantoio
Pendolino
ilfiorello.com

Jericho Canyon Vineyard
jcvcellars.com

Jovia Groves
Arbequina
joviagroves.com

KATZ
Kitchen Line Organic Chef's Pick
Organic Rock Hill Ranch
katzandco.com

Kiler Ridge Olive Farm
Gregg's Reserve
kilerridge.com

Lodi Olive Oil Company
Ascolano
Mediterrean Blend
Tuscan Blend
lodioliveoil.com

Lucero Olive Oil
Anthony's Blend
Ascolano
Arbequina
Arbosana
Frantoio
Koroneiki
Manzanillo
Mission
Sevillano
lucerooliveoil.com

McEvoy Ranch
Organic Traditional
info@mcevoyranch.com
mcevoyranch.com

Monte Vista Ranch
ogrape1@gmail.com

Moose Valley Estate
moosevalleyoliveoil.com

Moulds Family Vineyard
smoulds@sbcglobal.net

Old Chatham Ranch
oldchathamranch.com

Olivas de Oro
Mission Blend
Mission Reserve
email@olivasdeoro.com
olivasdeoro.com

The Olive Pit
Anna's Oil
olivepit.com

The Olive Press
Arbequina
Arbosana
Ascolano
Italian Blend
Koroneiki
Lunigiana Estate
Marquesa
Mission
Picual
Sevillano
theolivepress.com

Olive U Oil
Manzanillo
Mission
peggy@oliveuoil.com
oliveuoil.com

Oliveto del Vecchio
Arbequina
Tuscan Blend
olivetodelvecchio.com

Owens Creek
Quartetto Viola
Quartetto Classico
owenscreekcompany.com

Pacific Sun Olive Oil
Eva's Blend
Proprietor's Select
Tehama Blend
pacificsunoliveoil.com

Pasolivo Olive Oil
Tuscan Blend
info@pasolivo.com
pasolivo.com

Prince Olive Estancia
princeolive.com

Red Rock Olive Oil
Arbequina
redrockoliveoil.com

Roanti Ranch

Robbins Family Farm
Ascolano
Jesse's Blend
sales@robbinsfamilyfarm.com robbinsfamilyfarm.com

Rosenthal Olive Ranch
rosenthaloliveranch.com

Seka Hills
Arbequina
sekahills.com

S & G Estate
Mission

Sutter Buttes Olive Ranch
sutterbuttesoliveranch.com

Taber Ranch
Arbequina
taberranch.com

Talcott Olive Oil
Carneros Estate
info@TalcottOliveOil.com
talcottoliveoil.com

Tallgrass Ranch
Estate EVOO
tallgrass@hughes.net

Tasting Bars, LLC
Drizzle Olive Oil
tastingbars@comcast.net
drizzleoliveoil.com

Temecula Olive Oil Company
Rotture di Oro
temeculaoliveoil.com

Templeton Olive Oil Company
templetonoliveoil.com

Tres Osos Olive Oil
Organic

Val di Luna Farms
Tuscan Blend
valdilunafarms@yahoo.com

Victorine Valley Farms
victorinevalley.com

Wente family Estates
Organic
wentevineyards.com

Winterhill Estate
winterhillfarms.com