Georgia Olive Growers Association

Whether you are already involved in producing olives in Georgia or whether you are simply investigating the amazing possibilities of this new Georgia grown commodity, come learn more with UC Davis’ Olive Guru, Paul Vossen. Attend the educational workshop to hear about horticultural and cultural practices necessary for olive production such as soil type, irrigation, pruning and orchard maintenance. Find out the differences between high density verses traditional orchard planting. And hear first hand from current Georgia olive producers what worked for them and what pitfalls to watch out for.

TO REGISTER

Spring Workshop Registration – Word format
Spring Workshop Registration – PDF format
       
Complete the registration form (download the form in Word or PDF format) and send to Peggy McCauley via fax (706) 883-8215 or via email pmccauley@asginfo.net.

Click here for further details about the 2012 Olive Workshop.

The Georgia Olive Growers Association is hosting Adam Englehardt with California Olive Ranch to give an overview and answer questions regarding a proposed federal marketing order for olive oil with the Georgia olive industry. Englehardt has been a friend of the Georgia olive industry and has been one of the active voices of the U.S. olive industry advocating the need for a marketing order. Paul Miller, President of the Australian Olive Association, will also be in attendance. Miller was the featured speaker at the Olive Educational Conference in Savannah and has been integral in helping establishing olive oil standards around the world.

GOGA Spring Workshop & Orchard Tour RESCHEDULED for May 22

The Georgia Olive Growers Association (GOGA) has rescheduled the spring workshop and orchard tour for May 22 due to cold weather setbacks in the orchard. The workshop will be held at the Threatte Civic Center in Lakeland, GA followed by olive orchard tours in the surrounding area. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., educational presentations will start at 9 a.m. and orchard tours will commence after lunch.

The focus of the workshop will answer questions many current and potential olive growers are asking, such as how to start an olive orchard, what are the pest pressures in the southeast, and will olives actually grow successfully in Georgia. Current Georgia olive producers will also share their experiences with establishing and maintaining their olive orchards.

A tour of olive orchards will follow the workshop and, weather permitting, fruit set will have just begun. This event is open to both members and non-members of the association.

GOGA Executive Director Beth Bland Oleson has high hopes for the one-day event. “This is an opportunity to not only cultivate more interest in the olive industry, but also to further educate growers on how to be more efficient and economical in their growing practices,” she said.

More details and registration information will come via email and on the GOGA website in the near future.

If you have any questions or would like more information about educational workshops, contact Beth Bland Oleson at 706-845-9085 or georgiaolivegrowers@asginfo.net.

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

Virgin Harvest

A group of South Georgia farmers is rolling the dice on a crop straight out of the Bible — olive trees. Will gourmet olive oil be far behind?

View the PDF of Jim Auchmutey’s Atlanta Magazine article about Georgia Olive Farms first harvest.
 
 

In Georgia: The Next Oil Barons

Georgia farmers produce the South’s newest cash crop

View the article from Garden & Gun Magazine
 
 

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.

Georgia Olive Farms: Harvesting The East Coast’s First Olives in Over 100 Years, from Growing Georgia

Georgia Olive Oil, from Macon Magazine

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