Red Bluff Daily News Special Publications
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/104688
The bounty of... The Olive City Local Olive Oil — Building Gourmet Reputation Locally grown and produced olive oil is catching the attention of the growing Slow Food movement and gourmets and foodies from throughout the state and nation. There are three local mills producing artisan olive oil and the industry has seen rapid growth in recent years. Corning Olive Oil, 721 Fig Lane in Corning, 8245447, tours and tasting by request. corningoliveoil.com Greek businessman and long-time olive grower, John Psyllos, sold his olive packing operation in 1990 and brought in an oil mill. It is now owned by members of his original crew and maintains the family traditions that have made it Lucero Olive Oil opened a first rate tasting room in 2010 at 2120 Loleta Ave., a must for visitors. Factory tours are available. a success. Lucero Olive Oil, 2120 Loleta Ave. in Corning, 8242190, tours and tasting by request, lucerooliveoil.com Fourth generation olive grower Dewey Lucero draws on some of the oldest olive trees in the state in his family's groves. His maternal grandfather owned a nursery for more than 27 years and grew a majority of the olive trees in production in the North State. Pacific Sun Olive Oil, 22880 Gerber Road in Gerber, 385-1475, tours and tasting by request, pacificsunoliveoil.com The collaboration of Brendon Flynn, third generation farmer, and agricultural awareness proponent Brian Kenny, childhood friends, focuses on producing 100 percent natural, healthy oils from freshly-picked olives. The operation hosts Love At First Crush each fall, with oil and wine tasting, food and entertainment. Sevillano — The Queen Olive Association was formed Olives, a multi-million with olives dollar crop for showing Tehama signs of their County, have become more royal future. The olive than a food Visit the Olive Hut industry for Corning grew even residents – or the Olive Pit for more with they have tasting and gifts become a the success of the reason to celebrate. Sevillano Olive, which had originally It all started in 1897 when been intended to be mission olive trees were discarded because they planted in what would one were late-bearing. But the day become the Olive City. Not much was expected olive packing plant's manager decided to save from the fruit — it was the batch. grown primarily for oil. But after the olive trees These saplings began to produce olives the size of withstood the year's winter small plums. and pests that wreaked havoc on other fruit trees, a They would later be crowned the queen of all new industry was born. olives, and Corning became The Maywood Colony Canning and Packing known as the home of the Want a taste? The Olive Hut on Highway 99W just south of South Street offers plenty more than gourmet olives. "Queen Olive." Tehama County Olives normally contribute about $12 million to the county's fruit and nut industry. Olive lovers can get their fill year-round at the Olive Hut, 3487 Hwy. 99W, and the Olive Pit, 2156 Solano St. Corning 2013 15