
When I moved to Huntington Beach, Calif. every house in the tract had an olive tree in the front. If you were fortunate enough to purchase your home (rather than rent) the fine print on the contract said the buyer has no mineral rights. Jackpumps along the Southern California coast work 24/7, the oil runs under our land, and we still pay the highest prices in the nation for gas.
New interest in California’s other oil could create another boom — for olive oil producers. While everyone in our neighborhood had their olive trees removed in favor of something less attractive to birds, bad weather in Europe has created a shortage of olive oil in top-producing countries. They’re eyeing California, which provides 99% of commercial olive oil in the U.S. With some of the most stringent standards, California olive oil is an attractive product that locals often prefer. You can get up to speed on olive oil by visiting a farm, taking a factory tour or attending an olive festival this year such as Oroville’s upcoming Ripe Olive Day on Feb. 21, 2017.
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