Olive Education
Your Olive IQ
This is a short paragraph introducing a list of your most frequently asked questions and helpful answers.
The "Texas Oil Boom"
Often referred to as the new "Texas Oil Boom", the Texas Olive and Olive Oil Industry is relatively young but growing. The olive is considered an exotic fruit crop in Texas. Olives are native to the Mediterranean Basin, which usually has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. In contrast, Texas sometimes has severe winter freezes that can kill olives to the ground, and wet, humid springs that can effect olive bloom and fruit maturation. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension the best area in Texas to attempt olive production is in the southwest region north of Laredo and southwest of San Antonio (known as the Winter Garden). Being at the northern edge of the "Winter Garden", we at Phillips Olive Orchards can certainly attest to the challenges of growing olives here is South-Central Texas. However with a growing body of knowledge, experience and a healthy respect for Mother Nature we are encouraged by our past and eagerly anticipating the future.
Whether you are curious about Phillips Olive Orchards, Olives in general, Texas Olives specifically or looking to develop your Olive IQ, below are commonly asked questions and links to useful information.
What Makes Phillips Olive Orchards & Products Different Than Others?
As a pioneer in what we call the "Texas Olive Experiment" our commitment to innovation, personal attention to all aspects to our products ~ when we say "from our family orchard to your families table" we mean just that. Unlike many other orchards and retailers in the marketplace, here at Phillips Olive Orchards, we produce, harvest, prepare, manufacture, package and retail our own products.
As a small family owned and operated business, at Phillips Olive Orchards we understand that our name and reputation are on each and every one of our products. Building on our beliefs of family, faith and service, our growth and success is established on three fundamental and guiding principles: Being a good steward to and of our land, orchard and resources; Providing only high quality products to our customers; and treating everyone as family through outstanding customer service. We believe that these principals has built our success loyal and satisfied return customers.
How do you pick all of your Olives?
Here at Phillips Olive Orchards, we employ traditional methods of growing and harvesting our olives. The short answer is we pick all of our olives by HAND. Olives have been harvested by hand for thousands of years, we believe that keeping with tradition maintains our orchard and product integrity.
At the peak of ripeness we call "all hands-on-deck" - family, friends and lots of grand kids all have a "hand" (pun intended) in our harvesting operations. From picking, cleaning and sorting we share a lot of laughs, memories, a little ribbing/joking along the way and of'course sweat and tired bodies.
While mechanical harvesting techniques (over-head tractor driven modified grape harvesters to shakers) are employed throughout the industry, we have found that the traditional methods ensures that our olive fruit and trees are not damaged or scared. While labor intensive, traditional hand harvesting ensures minimal damage to our trees, maximizes our harvest yield and ensures that our olives/fruit are not bruised or blemished in the harvesting process.
If you interested in more information on Olive Harvesting or would like a hands-on harvesting experience please contact us- future harvesting events/parties will be arranged as harvest nears.
What is Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)?
EVOO is an acronym for extra virgin olive oil, and it is a classification of olive oil that requires the product meet a strict set of regulations for a company to apply it to their product. Though the standards may vary between countries, the International Olive Council actually provides a succinct definition that is typically followed by most nations.
EVOO is considered the purest form of olive oil, but it is certainly not the only king. In the United States, there are five classifications.
The following chemical standards are used by nations like Greece and Italy to ensure that their products are appropriately labeled EVOO.
The free fatty acidity of the product must not exceed 0.8%.
The level of peroxides cannot exceed 20 milliequivalents per kilogram.
It must have UV absorbency of no more than 0.22 for K270, no more than 2.5 for K232, and less than 0.01 for Delta K.
The process by which the product is made must also follow some very strict guidelines.
The final product cannot include any fruit other than olives taken from olive trees.
Nothing may be added during the process, so the producer cannot add any solvents or heat.
The only processes that the fruit can go through are washing, decantation, centrifugation, and filtration.
The temperature of the process must remain under 27°C (80°F).
What is the difference between Green and Black Olives?
For table olives, color (green or black) is based on a variety of factors: Olive variety, ripeness, and preserving method are the primary factors. In general terms, depending on variety, green olives are unripe, and darker or black olives are ripened before being harvested. Whether ripened or not; green or black, all olives are very bitter at harvest and need to be processed or preserved to make them eatable. Preserving methods are also a major factor to coloring. Green olives are typically soaked (cured) in a salt water "brine" mixture to reduce bitterness. Black olives are usually soaked in lye and possibly a coloring agent then cured in brine to provide the rich black color your table is accustomed to. the longer the olive is soaking in solution, the less bitter they become.
While here at Phillips Olive Orchards we grow olives of Italian, Greek and Spanish varieties: Picul, Leccino, Pendolino, Koroneiki, and other varieties, our primary variety are Arbequina. Arbequina is a Spanish variety proven adaptable to a variety of climates- especially here is South Central Texas. Arbequina olives are small, purple when ripened and produce an outstanding very sweet flavored oil, with a delicate almond overtone.
For our table olives we prefer our Leccino olives. A larger Italian olive harvested during the ripening season providing green to purple fruit. For all of our table olives we cure them in a natural salt water solution (we never use lye or other chemicals) and we finish in a vinegar or light sea salt brine.
I've heard that Olives and Olive Oil is healthy, is this True?
Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet. It is rich in antioxidants. The main fat it contains is monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which experts consider a healthful fat.
The antioxidants in olive oil may help protect the body from cellular damage that can lead to a range of health conditions and diseases. Extra virgin olive oil has a bitter flavor, but it contains more antioxidants than other types, as it undergoes the least processing.
Benefits
Many studies have looked at the health benefits of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil, which is the best quality oil available, is rich in antioxidants, which help prevent cellular damage caused by molecules called free radicals.
Free radicals are substances that the body produces during metabolism and other processes. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals.
If too many free radicals build up, they can cause oxidative stress. This can lead to cell damage, and it may play a role in the development of certain diseases, including certain types of cancer.
Olive oil and the cardiovascular system
Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. People who consume this diet appear to have a higher life expectancy, including a lower chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases, compared with people who follow other diets. Some experts call it “the standard in preventive medicine.”
A 2018 study compared the number of cardiovascular events among people who consumed a Mediterranean diet, either with olive oil or nuts, or a low-fat diet.
People who consumed the Mediterranean diet, whether with olive oil or nuts, had a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than those on the low-fat diet.
According to the authors of one 2018 review, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority recommend consuming around 20 grams (g) or two tablespoons (tbs) of extra virgin olive oil each day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
Results of a 2017 study suggested that the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil may offer protection from cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, brain dysfunction, and cancer. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant.
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by a group of risk factors that increase disease risk, including obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels.
Authors of a 2019 meta-analysis concluded that olive oil in a Mediterranean diet might improve features of metabolic syndrome, such as inflammation, blood sugar, triglycerides (fats in the blood), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol. In contrast, it appears to increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.
Which foods help lower blood pressure? Click here to find out.
Depression risk and olive oil
In 2013, a rodent study suggested that ingredients in extra virgin olive oil may help protect the nervous system and could be useful for treating depression and anxiety.
Two years before, scientists had found evidence that people who ate trans fats, which is an unhealthful fat that features in fast foods and premade baked goods, were more likely to have depression than those who consumed unsaturated fats, such as olive oil.
How can diet impact depression? Find out here.
Olive oil and cancer risk
Some studies have suggested that substances in olive oil may help reduce the risk of breast cancer, but not all findings confirm this.
According to research published in 2019, olive oil contains substances that may help prevent colorectal cancer. Lab tests have found evidence that antioxidants in olive oil may help protect the body from inflammation, oxidative damage, and epigenetic changes.
Can diet impact a person’s risk of cancer? Find out here.
Alzheimer’s disease
In 2016, some scientists suggested that including extra virgin olive oil in the diet may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. This may be due to its protective impact on blood vessels in the brain.
Authors of a mouse study published in 2019 suggested that consuming oleocanthal-rich extra virgin olive oil could help slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s. Oleocanthal is a phenolic compound that occurs in extra virgin olive oil.
Olive oil and the liver
A 2018 review of laboratory studies found that molecules in extra virgin olive oil may help prevent or repair liver damage.
The oil’s MUFAs, which are mainly oleic acid, and its phenolic compounds appear to help prevent inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and other changes that can result in liver damage.
Olive oil and inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are types of IBD.
A 2019 review found that phenols in olive oil may help boost intestinal immunity and gut health by changing the microbes in the gut. This could be useful for people with colitis and other types of IBD. The authors noted that more human studies are needed to confirm these results.
Find out more about the Mediterranean diet.
Nutrition
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1 tbsp, or 13.5 grams (g) of olive oil, provides:
119 calories
13.5 g of fat, of which 1.86 g is saturated
1.9 milligrams (mg) of vitamin E
8.13 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K
It also contains traces of calcium and potassium, as well as polyphenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, squalene, and terpenic acids and other antioxidants.
Where can I find more information on Olives?
One of the best resources that we have found is our friends at the University of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. They have done outstanding research on Texas Olives and update their studies regularly.
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/
Questions? Contact us today, our team is always ready to help.