Fresno State’s olives for oil project releases the second harvest of its award-winning, yet improved, 2006 Estate Reserve Olive Oil during a special tasting today (March 7) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fresno State Farm Market.
Fresno State’s new release of the oil that won acclaim in its first year is one of the few shining spots in California’s olive oil industry which suffered from adverse winter and spring weather conditions.
California’s crop was down 65 percent from the previous year as a result of extremely warm weather in January followed by freezing temperatures in February that damaged fruit buds, resulting in the lowest crop since 1981, according to Western Farm Press. The shortage could result in higher olive oil prices.
The university fared a little better with a 65 percent yield, reports Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of Fresno State’s University Agricultural Laboratory.
“For a three-year-old crop, two tons per acre yield is pretty good in a rough year,” said Srinivasan.
The price for a 500 ml bottle of the 2006 Fresno State Estate Reserve will remain at $14.95 as an introductory offer for the new release at least through March, according to Jennifer Sobieralski, manager of Fresno State Farm Market.
“We are holding our price at last year’s level as a way of thanking our loyal Farm Market customers,” Sobieralski said. The olive oil sold out in December and she said Farm Market customers have been waiting for the new release.
They will get their chance today when Orchard Manager Gino Favagrossa will conduct the tasting of the new release of student-produced 2006 extra-virgin olive oil.
That 2005 batch was the first to be processed and bottled under the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology’s “olives-for-oil” project. The introductory “estate reserve” won a bronze medal at the prestigious San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival in November.
That batch was what Favagrossa said is a “straight field blend,” while the 2006 release is a true reserve blend that is blended for balance, taste and texture, Favagrossa said.
“Although good, the straight field blend does not compare to the immediate quality of this year’s blend,” Favagrossa said. “The oil was harvested at the peak of quality for flavor and intensity, not necessarily for maximum oil yield.”
Fresno State’s olive oil has been certified Extra Virgin by the California Olive Oil Council, meeting strict requirements including taste and being free of defects, Favagrossa said. He was pleased with last year’s medal showing in competition and plans to enter statewide competitions and possibly an international one.
In addition to the Farm Market, the Estate Reserve is available at We Olive in the Fig Garden Shopping Center in Fresno, where the new batch will be simultaneously released to the public today.
The Farm Market is located on the southeast corner of Chestnut and Barstow avenues and remains open while road construction for the Save Mart Center is under way. Access is from Barstow Avenue. For more information, call 559.278.4511.
Related links:
Olive Oil wins first medal
Estate Reserve – Fresno State’s first extra virgin olive oil – to be released at Farm Market Thursday (March 9)
