THE FAMILY TREE

The roots of California Ripe Olives go way back. Wild olives (scientifically known as oleaster) once grew all over the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and other areas, but this small plant bore little resemblance to the graceful modern olive tree. That is, until about 5,000 years ago when it was first cultivated in Crete and Syria into the beauty we are familiar with today.

OLIVES ON A MISSION

Once established, olive trees flourished in Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, and other Mediterranean countries for thousands of years, and were featured in many of the regions culinary specialties. The Spaniards were the first to realize that this fabulous fruit could have international appeal and took the first cuttings to Peru in the mid-sixteenth century.  From there, Franciscan Monks took olives to Central America and moved North through the missions of Mexico. In 1769, the first olive cuttings were planted in California at the San Diego Mission where the olives thrived in California’s climate.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Surrounded by a cooperative climate, Californians started planting acres of olive trees in response to the high demand for olive oil in the 1800s. When the market became saturated (ironically, with monounsaturated oil), prices dropped, and farmers were tasked with finding an alternative use for their olive trees.  A woman named Freda Ehmann and her son, Edwin, came up with a resourceful solution to the industry’s problem. The Ehmann family had trees that bore little fruit, and selling pressed oil was not an option for them. After consulting with a UC Berkeley professor on processing methods, Freda began experimenting with 280 gallons of olives in barrels on her back porch. Thanks to her creative thinking, California Ripe Olives were born.

FROM OUR FARMS TO YOUR TABLE

California Ripe Olives may not be prepared on Freda’s back porch anymore (in fact, we can assure you, they are always cured in one of two California state-of-the-art canning facilities), but they are made through the same exact process that Freda invented. This is what gives our olives a unique and distinctly American flavor. Mild, versatile and meaty, they continue to add great flavor to everything from American country cooking to a melting pot of ethnic cuisines.