Olives101.com

American food lovers have long taken for granted that only olive oils from the Mediterranean are worth buying preferably with an olive tree, an Italian flag and some words like “authentic cold pressed” on the bottle.    

Making olive oil at harvest takes time, muscle and a bit of guidance. Visiting mills in the region, known as 'Italy's green heart,' provides a lesson in its history and a chance to sample the season's offerings.     Reporting from Civitella, Italy— The anonymous stone building on the outskirts of Civitella, my Umbrian hilltop [...]

  California's burgeoning olive oil producers are counting on a newly enacted state labeling law to persuade more consumers that American brands are more virginal than their imported rivals.   The measure, signed into law on Friday by Governor Jerry Brown, tightens the definitions of various calibers of olive oil, such as "virgin" and "extra [...]

With the imminent advent of the olive harvest season, the agriculture ministry on Wednesday said it will employ marketing procedures to help farmers sell their olive oil.   Ministry of Agriculture Secretary General Radi Tarawneh explained yesterday that even if there is a surplus of olives and olive oil this year, the ministry will help [...]

  Kendall College of the Culinary Arts in Chicago hosted yesterday a unique event showcasing one of the most essential products in the kitchen: olive oil. Proceeds to benefit Common Threads.     The event hosted by world-renowned olive oil expert, Alfonso J. Fernandez features a presentation, olive oil tasting, tapas and wine all set in [...]

The olive tree is a traditional symbol of abundance. Its cultivation is economically significant in the Mediterranean region, with attention focused on olives and olive oil. At the same time, uses are being sought for other parts of the olive tree. During pruning and harvesting, many olive leaves and small branches are collected. Given the [...]

  Several epidemiological (population-based) studies have found significantly lower rates of death from all causes, particularly heart disease, among those whose dietary habits are closets to traditional Mediterranean diets (rich in plant foods, olive oil and low in saturated animal fats).    Recently, researchers from the University Of Athens School Of Medicine reviewed all of [...]

  In September Spain traditionally begins harvesting of table olives. Harvest will last until November and will end by the olive festival. Olives is the pearl of the Mediterranean. In Russia the olives from the sunny Spain are very popular and are appreciated for its good taste. Due to the wide diversity of varieties and [...]

Researchers from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) have proposed a new procedure for the detection of illegal color additives in green olives.   Writing in the academic journal LWT – Food Science and Technology, the Spanish researchers noted that because certain processing techniques alter the color of olives, certain manufacturers add a food [...]

  Ambrosia Olive Farm owners Dawn and Steve Skarmoutsos brought their passion for olive growing from Greece. What does Ambrosia Olive Farm produce? The organic farm is family-run by my husband Steve and I, and we produce table olives, preserved and marinated olives, olive oil and olive-based skincare products named Eleon Cosmetics that include creams, [...]

By Brian Clark Howard, Olive oil has many valuable uses beyond cooking, from personal care to home improvement, natural remedies and beyond. Also see money-saving uses for ketchup, vinegar and vodka. Olive oil is more than a cartoon character, historic symbol of peace and glory or food staple of the much-vaunted Mediterranean diet. It is [...]

By Brian Lockhart, The state’s strict new olive oil standards have left a bad taste in the mouth of one New York food importer who is arguing in court the rules are unfair, flaunt federal law and are hurting business. Dennis Kangadis, vice president of New York-based Kangadis Food Inc., also known as The Gourmet [...]

By Andrew Weil, Q: I understand that a magazine reported that a lot of the olive oil from Italy is adulterated with lesser oils and described ongoing fraud in the olive oil business. Do you have any information about this? A: I have read the article you mention, it reports that fraud remains a major [...]

Going green can mean picking the right olive oil and one expert on the oil says California’s premium olive oils are often worth the extra money. University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor Paul Vossen, an olive oil expert, says the state’s olive oil has a promising future if word of its many benefits is [...]

Olive oil is widely known for providing a wide range of health benefits, including but not limited to preventing skin cancer, support with weight loss, preventing ear aches and infections, softening calluses, preventing heart attack and stroke, relieving irritated skin around the eyes, healing frostbite, flattening wrinkles, strengthening weak fingernails, reducing scarring, treating indigestion, healing [...]