Valencia Creek Farms: Olive Harvest 2007

Chris Banthien handpicks Ascolano olives for the
2007 harvest at her Valencia Creek Farm.

The crew consists of 10 people including the foreman Luis, Felipe, Barbara and Isabella.

The small trees are handpicked while the larger trees are harvested using pneumatic rakes that are compressor driven.

This gentle process rakes the olives
from the branches and they are
gathered onto a tarp.

At the end of the day, the fruit is trucked to the olive mill (frantoio in Italian) at Pietra Santa Winery in Hollister so it can be pressed first thing in the morning.

The Tuscan fruit consisting of Maurino, Leccino, Pendolino, Frantoio and Taggiasca is harvested at varying degees of ripeness.

Green, purple and black olives are desirable for a complex taste profile.

Black and purple lend a full fruitiness while the green add pungency and depth.

Photography by Elizabeth Hodges