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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThere are a lot of issues with not having enough irrigation to produce other crops,\u201d Stoven says. \u201cIt does seem that olives may be able to do well in those conditions.\u201d However, climate change is not bringing just heat and drought. Punishing cold weather events are becoming more common, as well. At 45\u00b0 latitude, Oregon teeters at the northern limit for growing olives. Traditionally, these ancient trees are cultivated in milder winter regions with a true Mediterranean climate, in Italy, Spain and Greece. In the U.S., California is the largest producer of olives, although other states, including Texas, have newer plantings. In Oregon, the hope is to grow fruit that will give such high-quality oil that it brings a premium price for a specialty product.
\nFor the past 18 years, Durant Olive Mill in Dundee has been doing just that, growing and milling olives into premium olive oils that line the shelves of the company\u2019s tasting room and sell for the price their quality demands. Co-owner Paul Durant, who has collaborated with the OSU Extension team to determine the best growing conditions for olives, has turned his family\u2019s passion into a successful venture.
\n\u201cWe have five single-cultivar oils and a Tuscan blend that\u2019s super unique,\u201d Durant says. \u201cI liken the Arbequina to a white wine, very fruity and mild as compared to the Tuscan, which is more robust like a red wine. We try to educate people how to use different olive oils with different foods. It\u2019s meant to enhance the flavor of food. That\u2019s the beauty of olive oil.\u201d<\/p>\n
A cold challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n Durant has experienced loses due to cold weather. That\u2019s one of the challenges the Extension team, which also includes Hayley White, an agriculture program coordinator serving Marion and Polk counties, is up against. Olives do fine down to 25\u00b0F for a short period of time, but if a colder snap comes along, trees will suffer damage or die. Olives Research Project Helps Growing Interests in the PNW By Oregon State University Extension Service|December 11, 2023 Just as it took a small-but-enthusiastic group to invest in wine production more than 60 years ago, today a new group is equally determined to start another new Oregon agriculture industry in the state: olives. There\u2019s a strong […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":3109,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31040"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31040"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31045,"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31040\/revisions\/31045"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loghouseplants.com\/plants\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nTo make it even more problematic, timing plays a part, too. If it\u2019s under 25\u00b0F on a winter night and then warms up the next day, the trees should be fine. If it\u2019s a prolonged cold snap, all bets are off. To make it even more tricky, most olive trees need a sustained period of chilly temperatures below 45\u00b0F for flower induction and fruit production. Cold spring and late winter temperatures can also damage olive tissue and the buds that will become fruit. If the stars align and there\u2019s a mild winter and no hard frost in spring when buds are breaking, the trees survive, grow well and can produce a healthy crop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"