Georgia Olive Growers Association
Georgia Olive Oil Makes a Southern Dinner
“My guests loved their first pimento cheese, but when I explained how to make it, they didn’t believe I used Georgia olive oil. And if there was such a thing, “It could not possibly be better than Lebanese olive oil!” I poured a precious bit for them to taste. Their eyes got big. They insisted on seeing the bottle.”
Read more from Myra Blackmon’s article at Like the Dew: A Journal of Southern Culture & Politics
GEORGIA OLIVE FARMS FIRST HARVEST!
On September 18 and 19th, the first commercial olive harvest east of the Mississippi since the late 1800′s took place. With abundant media presence, Bennett Tractor Company of Waycross, Georgia provided three different harvesters to harvest Georgia Olive Farm olive trees. Although olive trees less than three years old would not normally be harvested, GOF believes it is important to let farmers see that olive can be grown and olive oil can be produced in Georgia and other southeastern states. The harvest was a great success and Georgia olive oil will be available for sale by the end of this year. Photos and video will soon be posted.
Kevin Shaw of Georgia Olive Farms Shows Gardeners How to Plant an Olive Tree, from Olive Crazy
State of Extra Virgin, from Postbox
U.S. farmers out to bring back homegrown olive oil, from USA Today
Conversation grows about Georgia olives from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Olive oil, straight from Georgia from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Special Report: There’s oil in Georgia, report from WALB
Georgia Farmer Begins Olive Production, report from the Georgia Farm Monitor
Shaw harvests first olives on East Coast since 1800s, coverage of the first harvest on The Valdosta Daily Times
Olives return after two centuries, coverage of the first harvest on WALB
The Return of the Georgia Olive, coverage of the first harvest on the Lanier County Advocate
View the 2011 First Harvest photo gallery.
View the 2011 Developing Harvest photo gallery
Read Aussie Standard Wrapped, Paul Miller Pitches New World Olive Oil Quality ‘Alliance’ from The Olive Oil Times
Read Georgia Olive Farms from South Georgia Business magazine
(View the article as a PDF)
Read Georgia farmers banking on olive groves from The Washington Post
Read Georgia (Olive Oil) On Our Minds from The Olive Orchard
Read Growers Blend Olives and Blueberries from Growing Magazine.
Read A Photo Interlude: Shaw Orchards from Olive Crazy.
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Georgia Olive Growers Association, Inc. is to promote, encourage and educate others about the growing of olive trees (olea europaea) in the State of Georgia along with the production and marketing of olive oil, pickled olives and other olive tree products derived from olive trees grown in our state.
Conversation With Kevin and Sam Shaw
In Lakeland, Georgia, something is growing that hasn’t been seen for more than a century: olive trees. Three years ago Jason, Kevin and Sam Shaw planted olive trees on their farm even as others said it would never work. The trees are thriving and come spring Jason, Kevin and Sam hope to have a crop ready for pressing into olive oil. Most olive oil comes from Italy or California, a long hike and a heavy carbon footprint if you live on the East Coast of the U.S. Production of olive oil in Georgia will allow a lot more people to get a taste of Italy (and California) without the guilt. I talk with Kevin and Sam about their new venture. Visit Georgia Olive Growers Association.
VIDEO CREDITS: Lori Wark