Process
The Magic Behind Our Liquid Gold
Our Trees
We hand-tend our grove of 500 trees, meaning that each tree receives the exact care it requires.
Pruning happens during the Spring season when it’s time for last year’s growth to be trimmed away. Pruning encourages new shoots, which in turn produce blooms. Olive trees are wind pollinated and blooms tend to appear anywhere between April and June.
Harvest
Depending on Mother Nature, olive harvest typically occurs end of November to early December and with all hands on deck!
At Grove 45 we like to wait for our olives to be 60% ripe (purple) and 40% non-ripe (green) before we begin harvest. This golden ration allows us to achieve our beloved signature extra virgin olive oil that is the perfect combination of fresh, green, and buttery.
While larger olive oil companies are accustomed to shaking their trees, at Grove 45 our entire team harvests the trees by hand with mechanical rakes combing through them with care. It is a labor of love and we love to do the labor!
To The Press
Within 12 hours of harvest our olives embark on their journey to the mill where they are first-cold pressed without the use of heat, chemicals, or industrial refining. Fun fact: This process is what ensures our status of premium quality extra virgin olive oil.
Bottling
Bottling occurs once the entire crop has been milled and tested by the California Olive Oil Council for quality and certification. While our unique aluminum packaging will live beautifully on your shelves, it also helps the oil from light, heat, and oxygen degradation. Once bottling is completed, our delicious EVOO is ready to be on its way to you for your enjoyment!