California Leads U.S. in Olive Oil Production

Posted by Olivia on Mon, August 22, 2011

From the years 2004 to 2009, American’s appetite for olive oil grew by a massive 15%, and it’s expected to rise another 10% by 2013, according to experts at the UC Davis Olive Center. Compare this to growth of only 4% for all other vegetable oils—Americans are getting wise to the delicious, healthful benefits of olive oil.

And who’s feeding much of America’s olive oil consumption? The state of California, right here where we make our extra virgin olive oils, of course! The 2010 harvest alone in California produced over 1 million gallons of olive oil; compare that to around 650,000 gallons in 2008. It’s the biggest crop California has seen in 30 years!

With an overall global increase in olive oil consumption, we’re happy to be a part of this ever-growing community of growers and producers. Most of all, we’re happy to be growing and producing right here in California, where olive oil is becoming almost as representative of the state as wine has been. And Dan Flynn, director of the UC Davis Olive Center, thinks that we could soon be ranked among the top 10 olive oil producers in the world. We’ll be ready for it!