Olives101.com

By Maryline Larocque If ever there were a natural food and wine “pairing” in the raw, it’s grapes and olives. In Spain, Italy, Greece, and now California, the two crops are virtually inseparable. Antoinette Addison of Figueroa Farms (www.FigueroaFarms.com) inherited a third of an olive orchard in Provence, France. She and her husband, Shawn, bought […]

By Julissa McKinnon, This week the House of Representatives approved more than $44 million to continue funding three agricultural research programs that benefit Napa County. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, secured the funding in the 2007 agriculture spending bill. The bill has yet to go to the Senate, where it could be amended and approved. […]

By Lauren Beckham Falcone Leave the chianti. Take the oil. From tastings to housewarming gifts, olive oil is the new wine.“It’s a huge market,” said Kim Evers, manager of O & Co. on Newbury Street. “It’s becoming a big household gift because when people bring wine, they usually drink it right away. With olive oil, […]

Claudia Pharand spreads olive oil on her toast for breakfast. Sometimes she adds homemade jam or maple syrup. She cooks fish and vegetables with olive oil, whips it into a mean béchamel sauce, even uses it on her skin and hair for that extra healthy glow. She goes through one litre of the viscous green […]

By Bill Krueger, There appears to be a geographical gradient from north to south with the problem being more severe in the north and getting somewhat less toward the south. Generally speaking, olive yields in the Sacramento Valley were lighter last year than the year before. This is in contrast to the San Joaquin Valley, […]