While I was aware that there are quite a few small olive growers and makers of olive oil in and around the Bay Area, I assumed that most were located either in the upper Sacramento or Central valleys. But while shopping at Rainbow Grocery for baking supplies, I stumbled upon a brand of olive oil called Alhambra Valley which is located in all places, Martinez.
If it's true that the martini was invented in Martinez, then it's only fitting that there are olives nearby. And while I wish I was gifted enough to describe the nuances of the flavor of this oil, let me just say that I really like the taste.
According to the California Olive Oil Council:
The olive came to California in the late 18th century, when Spanish missionaries planted olive trees in each of the 21 missions they established between San Diego and Sonoma. By the mid-19th century, there was a thriving olive oil industry in California.
The industry languished, however, throughout much of the 20th century, until a new generation of health-conscious Americans rediscovered the flavor and benefits of olive oil. Again olive orchards were revived and new groves were planted, signalling a renaissance in the California olive oil industry.
In the early 21st century, the California olive oil industry has emerged as a vital and diverse factor in the worldwide arena. California oils are produced from a great number of olive varieties, through a wide range of methodologies from labor-intensive traditional hand-harvesting to those that are highly mechanized.
It is possible to grow olives in most regions of California. Olives are grown anywhere the temperature does not frequently fall below 20 degrees F any time during the winter.
The brochure that Alhambra had next to its bottles also helped me wrap my head around why the Alhambra Valley can support an olive business. It has a Mediterranean climate and rich soil and the area used to be filled with vineyards in the early 1900's.
Owner Tom Powers states that sustainable agriculture is a value he and his farm adhere to, but I can't glean any specifics from the brochure or company website of how they accomplish this.
Alhambra Valley olive oil is sold in 13 Bay Area stores including Whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl, Rainbow Grocery and others. Try it!
Were there any olive trees planted by spanish explorers near the willow pass in the area of the concord naval weapons station?
Posted by: John Owen | August 14, 2011 at 09:37 PM