Olives: Good price, bad crop

While state olives growers lament this year's bad crop, the Olive Growers Council of California recently announced the highest price for table olives in the industry's history.

The council reached the price agreement growers will be paid for the 2009 olive crop with Tracy and Bell Carter Olive Company of Corning and Musco Family Olive Company.

"However, for growers who have little or no crop, good prices are no consolation," said Adin Hess, council chairman.

Without tonnage, farmers will take a serious financial loss as they have invested heavily in pruning, irrigation, fertilizer and insect control as current farming cost are well in excess of $1,500 per acre, said Hess.

"Prices don't look good," said olive grower Gary Strack. "Except the crop is so light we won't be making any money."

He said his biggest concern is that the crop will have a lot of culls (small underdeveloped fruit) on trees which will create problems during picking.

"The pickers usually clean the trees," Strack said. "It might be difficult to have them be selective in their picking to keep as many culls on the trees and out of the boxes as possible."

This year's crop estimated at 50,000 tons is a big disappointment for the industry that fully expected a normal crop of 100,000 tons or more for the current season, said the council.

Cause for the light crop is due to extreme weather conditions that severely impacted the table olive crop's development during the bloom and pollination period in April.

"This is the third marginal crop within the last four years which has impacted growers financially," Hess said.

Although the crop is short, there will be adequate product to satisfy consumers as current inventories coupled with the tonnage harvested this season will keep store shelves filled, according to the council.