Random Thoughts

Athena: The Greek goddess of oil, peace & war, also the daughter of Zeus. Athens, the capitol of Greece is named after the Goddess Athena; she is the goddess of Wisdom and War. She is known for her strategic skill in warfare, is often portrayed as a companion of heroes, and is the patron goddess of heroic endeavor.  […]

Olive Oil is good for you. Olive Oil is delicious. Olive Oil plays well with other food. Choose your food. Choose the oil you love with that good food. Eat lots of vegetables and whole grains. Eat a balanced diet. Do not follow food fads. Walk during the day. No surprises, this is better health […]

That is the question. The answer is:  PRUNE Olive trees are sturdy and resilient. A beautiful Italian saying “Prune your olive trees so that a swallow can fly through without touching its wings” This beautiful saying gives the olive grower a visual target for pruning. Pruning and Training Systems for Modern Olive Growing, Riccardo Gucci […]

  A special day you care for people that you love. A Valentine’s Dinner Recipe Serves 2 from the heart 1 cup cooked pasta, whole grain organic elbow pasta from BAIA 1 cup cooked little white beans (any beans will do but cannellini is best) 1 cup organic crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon dried oregano ½ […]

Our citrus trees are in full production and we use all the citrus in Kitchen in the Grove. Endless uses for our fruit; marmalade, candied fruit, soups and flavorings, and plenty of eating. There is a lot of citrus on our tasting plates in the Visitor Center these days. Citrus represents a major component of […]

What do consumers want from their food, and what can a good olive oil deliver? Simple: better taste and better health. At IL Fiorello, we maintain that real, certified olive oil paired with good real food is always the best combination and complement for each other. It is a simple combination, maybe too simple for […]

Milling is done for the year 2018, and we have learned many lessons about olives. Yet again, Mother Nature rules and Farming is a risky business. Olives are a cyclical fruit, and most growers were down in crop volume from 60% to 80 % this year. Additionally, many people did not even harvest their meager […]

This is the time for giving thanks. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Milling is finishing. We have made great oils. The days are cooler. Family and friends gather to celebrate a uniquely American Holiday. We always cook our turkey outside in the grill. The aroma of the coals and turkey enticing us to finish all […]

My favorite time of the year is the Fall Harvest and milling season. The bounty of our Farm, the organic garden, and the Olive harvest is in full swing. This season closely links the Farm and the Kitchen in the Grove. Tasting plates at the Visitors Center reflect our garden’s produce and the uniqueness of […]

Olive harvest is getting closer, and we are very excited. The mill is clean, the spare parts and replacement parts have arrived, and updates to the computer systems are completed. All the computer updates to our databases for documentation are ready to go. The centrifuge is balanced and ready to work. The technician from Pieralisi […]