View From The Field - Coke Ranch, Corning, Ca

This picture was taken on 5/4/05. This is one of the orchards from which we get our Ascolana Olives. We use the Ascolana variety in our Mission/Ascolana Blend, our 2005 Proprietor's Select, and our Friar Oil. Les and Barbara did a great job pruning the orchard and we are primed to set a great crop and make some more award winning oil in 2006!

Here is what the same block of trees looked like last year.

Notice that you cant see through the trees. The canopy was blocking the sunlight and keeping the sun out of the center of the tree. This kept the crop from sizing in the center of the tree and also made it more difficult to harvest the olives. Notice also that last year's bloom was in full swing as of 5/2/04. We are a few weeks behind this year.