As we embark on our 2022 olive harvest, we’re these heavy branches, and we’re getting hungry. Whereas Farmer Al talks about how that is the heaviest olive crop he’s ever seen, we’re dreaming of marinades, dressings, sauces and extra. We will virtually style all of the recipes that might be much more scrumptious with our Tuscan-style olive oil.
The times simply earlier than the harvest are filled with anticipation. Annually’s oil is exclusive. We are going to all get collectively in late October to style our new press and to establish its taste traits. Till then, we proceed to take pleasure in our 2021 additional virgin olive oil – it normally sells out in October. 2021’s olive oil is medium-robust with fruity notes of inexperienced apple and underripe banana. We additionally style some nuttiness and a few grassy, floral notes. 2021’s textures are buttery, waxy and lightweight on the palate.
Have you ever ever questioned what’s behind the perfume, taste and coloration of Frog Hole Farm olive oil? What makes it so scrumptious, nutritious and distinct, 12 months after 12 months? Preserve studying…
Centuries of Knowledge
It began with a trip in 2001. Farmer Al traveled to Italy and frolicked on an olive farm in Tuscany serving to with their harvest. He liked the Tuscan olive oil he tasted – Italian growers had developed this glorious mix over centuries. He got here dwelling to Brentwood and devoted two acres of Frog Hole Farm to olive bushes. He planted 4 Tuscan varieties – Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolino, and Maurino. Every olive selection ripens at a distinct time, however farm crews choose all of them on the identical day. The combination of inexperienced (much less ripe) and purple (ripe) olives is what makes this Tuscan mix so scrumptious (and well-known).
One other Prolific 12 months
Our olive bushes amaze us. They’re large and wholesome, they usually yield an unbelievable crop yearly. Sure, you learn that proper: yearly. That is uncommon, as olive bushes are identified to provide a heavy crop one 12 months and a light-weight crop the next 12 months. This doesn’t occur at Frog Hole Farm as a result of Farmer Al and our farm crews have created optimum soil situations – a number of the finest soil situations on this planet. Our compost enlivens the soil with microbial life and creates resilient bushes that may overcome the stress of a heavy crop.
Some sources say a mature olive tree will yield about 3 to 4 liters – about 1 gallon – of oil per 12 months. Frog Hole Farm olive bushes every produce about 2 gallons of oil per 12 months.
Olio Nuovo for Thanksgiving
On October 3, we arrange our 12- and 15-foot ladders and began choosing our olives. We do that by hand. A number of the branches are so excessive, we’ve got to chop them down so we are able to harvest them. The olive harvest takes three weeks to finish. Each two days, we ship big bins of olives to McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma the place employees wash the olives and ship them to the chilly press. The strain of the blades on the olives produces a “first press” – that is our additional virgin olive oil. We ship these vats of additional virgin to a different firm that bottles the oil and labels it for us. By November, our cabinets are stocked once more with our wonderful olive oil. For the primary few months, this oil is taken into account “Olio Nuovo,” which is Italian for “new oil”, and is a seasonal delicacy.
Olio Nuovo might be prepared on your Thanksgiving meals – one style and also you’ll by no means need to cook dinner with the rest once more.
