According to the Farms of
Amador the olive
production of the Amador Olive Oil Company in 2006 was way down compared to the
previous year, 2005. Owner Susan Bragstad reported that in 2005 the
harvest yielded three and a half tons from the farm but this year she was lucky
to get a little more than a ton. According to the Farms of Amador newsletter production
in the Central Valley was almost non-existant this year as well.
Nick Sciabica & Sons Olive Oil Press stated that
this was the worst olive harvest in 100 years. Bragstad reports that she was able to produce enough product this year by picking old groves
around the county, including groves in Ione. There are many reasons for the
skimpy olive production this year, including too little rain last February, too
much rain in June, and too much heat for three weeks this last summer. All of
the same issues dealt with by farmers through out the state. The good news, the
quality of the olives was very good with very little impact from fruit fly
infestation, producing a high quality olive oil.
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