January 01, 2006
Four new Pieralisi olive oil presses have been installed in Central and Southern California to service the many olive trees sprouting up in that part of the state. The presses are all state-of-the-art according to Lisa Deane of the Olive Oil Source, the U.S. representative for Pieralisi who oversaw the installations. Astrid Jansen at Foxdale Farm was making oil on her Fattoria model press from Italy within days of the installation. She has her own trees but is specifically looking to do contract pressing for the many olive producers and wineries in the central California area which are putting in olive trees. The press has a 2-phase integrated cold-press system that guarantees a larger yield than traditional presses. At the same time, it enhances the organoleptic qualities of the oil it produces. Astrid says her facility can handle loads of any size. Her new steel and concrete pressing facility is right outside Paso Robles in the center of California's mid-state wine area. The area a few hours south was the scene of the recent movie "Sideways", which was about the wine industry.
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Astrid Jansen of Foxdale Farms tasting first oil with friends and neighbors.
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Astrid checking malaxation progress
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Willow Creek also installed new equipment at their facility outside Paso Robles. See article below.
Just north of the Los Angeles basin is the beautiful and fertile Ojai Valley. Many budding olive oil producers have put in trees. Jeff Luttrell at La Dolce Villa has installed a new Pieralisi Fattoria system. Jeff is an eye surgeon when he is not growing olives and making olive oil.
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Luttrell examining oil production
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Lisa Deane says the system can handle 350 - 500 kilos of olives per hour. Jeff is pressing olives from his own extensive orchards and may also do some public pressing.
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The beautiful Ojai Valley in Ventura County, Southern California
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The Olive Oil Source also supervised installation of another private facility in the Stockton area this fall. The equipment was made by Pieralisi of Italy.