04 Dec
Table olives losing favor on California farms
Small harvest being reported
- Groves cut, making way for more profitable crops
Central Valley olive growers are reporting one of the smallest harvests in years – 51,000 tons, well under the USDA’s initial estimate of 65,000 tons.
One reason: Fewer olive trees.
Growers, disappointed with the money to be made growing table olives, have been ripping out many of their trees in favor of other crops with a better bottom line.
Producing acreage for next year is estimated at about 25,000. That compares to 36,000 producing acres in 2000. California produces all of the nation’s table olives.
[Source] Click here