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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 05/09/2008 06:15 PM Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 05/09/2008 07:12 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
:



Master Gardeners Visit the Nemee Olive Orchard~By Gretchen Sullivan

Calaveras County Master Gardeners recently toured Trinitas Olive Orchards, on the Nemee Ranch in the Western corner of Calaveras County, as part of their continuing education program. Gardeners were pleasantly surprised to find one hundred and twenty-five year old trees that are not only ancient by American standards, but also healthy and very productive.....



Though some olive trees in the Mediterranean are known to be over 2500 years old, olives were first planted in California by Jesuit priests in 1769 and the earliest record of olive oil production was made in 1803. In the late 1800’s Californians planted many different olive varieties in an attempt to develop tasty, affordable olive oil blends that could compete with the high quality oils from Europe. As the number of plantings increased prices fell and soon trees were abandoned or used for pickled & canned olives.

In Calaveras County early trees were likely planted for canning purposes and the olive trees on the Nemee Ranch were planted by the Sinclair Family during the 1870’s. Today, the Nemee Family is reaping the rewards of forward thinking and hard work while capitalizing on a demand for healthy local products like olive oil. They have invested in their olive orchard since 2001; reviving fifteen acres of trees that had survived neglect since the 1970’s and adopting new sustainable irrigation, pruning and harvesting techniques recommended by industry experts. The Nemees are planning for the future with an innovative, forward-thinking trellis system for new plantings, which will improve harvesting time and effort.

After consulting with Farm Advisor Ken Churches, experienced growers Ed Rich and Nick Sciabicca, and University of California olive experts, the Nemees found that they had Mission, Manzanillo and Picholine varieties in their orchard. They hired ranch employees with experience working in olive orchards and got to work aggressively pruning the old trees. By pruning about twenty percent of the orchard each year they have been able to keep enough trees producing each season to supply the balanced palete of oils now known as Trinitas Estate Blend. This blend was developed after the first harvest in 2003 when the Nemees experimented with harvesting their olives at different stages of maturity. They found that a more robust flavor and higher oil content was achieved when the olives were picked earlier in the season. While some growers wait longer to allow the olive size to increase, this practice increases water content and, while adding to profit, diminishes the oil quality. The Nemees also decided not to filter their oil, leaving more of the naturally occurring olive waxes, adding flavor and texture.

Since the Master Gardeners who toured Trinitas are interested in the best irrigation and management practices, they were happy to learn that the Nemees are mowing orchard rows rather than spraying herbicides, using drip irrigation instead of orchard flooding, and taking advantage of natural topography to direct water to a pond at the bottom of the orchard, thereby reclaiming irrigation water. Other sustainable practices observed include using chipped tree prunings as mulch rather than burning the excess wood. The Nemees are collecting the best orchard prunings, then contracting with retirees skilled in hand carving, to create elegant bottle-stoppers, bowls, brushes and desk accessories. Additionally, they found a local Calaveras County resident who can use non-premium grade oil to make olive oil-based soaps.

On the day of the Master Gardeners’ visit they were fortunate to see the first use of a special small press called an Olivio Supremo purchased by Steve and Pat Nemee for use by visitors to taste the oil during educational tours. This olive press is also used to monitor blend balance and quality control while the bulk of the Nemees olives are processed at Sciabicca and Sons in Modesto.

The Gardeners were shown the oil making process from start to finish beginning with harvesting the olives with traditional olive rakes, inspecting the different colors and maturity levels, loading the press, and sampling the fresh oil as it left the brand new press. The amazing fresh, fruity taste was delicious and the texture of the rich oil felt delightfully creamy when rubbed on the hands. Since fresh taste is what the Nemees strive for they recommend that olive oil be used within one year and that it be kept at room temperature.
In addition to the heritage trees on the Nemee property they have olive tree stumps that were rescued from a nearby olive orchard where all the trees were topped, uprooted and left to stand for weeks. Mike Nemee decided to plant some of the stumps as an experiment and, unlikely as it seems, they are thriving. The four-to-six foot wide bushes are heavily laden with fruit that Mike believes can be successfully harvested.

Experimenting and looking ahead are a passion for the Nemees who have decided to diversify their crop by planting the first high-density trellis system in Calaveras County. After researching the best varieties and seeking guidance from industry experts they have planted ten acres of Arbequina and Koroneiki olives with the intention of using a mechanical grape harvester that runs over the trellised rows. The trellised olives have been planted for two years and, weather permitting they should be ready for production next year.

The weather was cold and windy after an unseasonable warm spell the day that the Master Gardeners visited Trinitas. According to Mike Nemee well established olive trees can withstand some temperature variations but they produce better in a Mediterranean-style climate. The olive crop suffered in 2006, one of the worst years in over a decade, when weeks of extreme cold were followed by high winds and an extended period of extreme heat.

In addition to temperature challenges, olives can be susceptible to pest damage. Luckily, the Nemees orchard is removed from major roads and other olive orchards so it is less likely to develop insect infestations. By working with the Calaveras County Agriculture Department the Nemees have used olive fruit fly traps to successfully check for and avoid one of the most destructive olive pests.

The Nemee family business continues to expand with plans for a spa, golf course and high end resort to compliment agricultural operations. As Agritourism increases in the county, customers embrace the idea of local niche marketing and another Nemee family member moves forward with plans to plant more olive trees. Mike Nemee is using his position as a Calaveras Grown board member to help promote local agriculture by sending his visitors to other local producers, by promoting locally grown products and by helping to coordinate upcoming farm tours.

According to University of California researchers the US produces less than 1% of the world’s olive oil. If the Nemees have their way, Calaveras County will soon help increase that number and contribute to what has been called, ”one of the state’s most promising industries.”

Members of the public interested in learning more about the high quality local products produced at Trinitas can find them for sale at local stores, farmers markets and online at www.Trintiasoliveoil.com.

The Master Gardeners of Calaveras County are available to answer your gardening and landscape questions on the Helpline at (209) 754-2880 and at the Demonstration Garden every fourth Saturday of the month. Questions about olive farming and olive oil production can be directed to Ken R. Churches, Farm Advisor, at (209)754-6475.



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