Olives101.com

By Amanda Gold, Purchasing olive oil these days can be a dizzying feat. Is it best to go for the more traditional Italian stuff? A particular varietal? Fruity or peppery? Mild? Robust? According to local chef and author Fran Gage, however, keeping it local – or at least domestic – isn’t a bad idea. In […]

Sheriff deputies arrested 39-year-old Cathy Latou who, reportedly admitted to embezzling over $360,000 from the Santa Barbara Olive Company. The owners of the company contacted the sheriff’s department on Monday, after Latou reportedly confessed to the theft. After a further investigation, sheriff officials discovered Latou may have taken an additional $90,000. Investigators believe the majority […]

Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki Recognized at the First Annual California Olive Oil Council Competition California Olive Ranch (COR), North America’s largest olive oil producer, received three medals from The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) for their 2008 harvest extra virgin olive oils: Both the single varieties Arbequina and Arbosana earned gold and COR’s single variety […]

By Marcia Wood, Olives basking in sunny California groves might find that their new best friend is a small brown wasp. Known to scientists as Psyttalia cf. concolor, the little wasp can help foil the olive fruit fly, a powerful natural enemy of olives. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist Victoria Y. Yokoyama and colleagues have […]

Over 56% of American Dietetic Association members surveyed report that they are concerned that the current economic downturn will have a negative effect on their patients’ ability to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, according to a survey conducted by the California Olive Committee. Almost three-quarters (72.2%) of the registered dieticians and nutritionists expressed concern […]