Production
Organic Farming
Living on the land where our olives grow ensures that we are in full control of farming decisions that affect the final quality of our oils. In-depth knowledge of the soil, daily monitoring and care of our trees, as well as the ability to determine the optimal moment for harvest are all part of our attentive approach to farming.
Luretik is a USDA certified organic grove which means that no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used on our land. Cultivation methods are sustainable: water is carefully regulated and all organic matter from mowing and pruning is reworked into the soil. While there is a high level of reliance on skilled techniques, such as pruning, where old-world knowledge is paramount, we also embrace newer technologies at the mill. This includes filtering our oils before bottling, a process that greatly enhances their quality and longevity.
Harvest
All olives used to produce Luretík extra virgin olive oil are estate grown, an advantage that allows us to assess the olives’ maturity daily, beginning in late summer and into the fall. Depending on the flavor profile we wish to achieve, different varieties are harvested at different moments and blended in certain percentages, resulting in oils that are either more robust or more delicate, but always complex.
Timing of the harvest is critical in producing a quality extra-virgin olive oil. Determining the right moment for picking depends not only on the particular olive variety but also on climatic conditions that may vary dramatically from year to year.
We combine hand-harvesting with the use of battery driven hand-held shakers fitted with soft, silicon rakes. This state-of-the-art equipment minimizes damage to the younger branches from which the following year’s olives will bloom. The olives are collected in nets and placed in 15kg crates that are then kept in cool storage till being transferred to the mill, just hours after picking.
Milling
Olives begin to deteriorate the moment they are removed from the tree. To prevent fermentation, fruit must be kept cool and arrive at the mill as quickly as possible. Healthy olives alone, however, do not guarantee that an oil will be, as Italians say, da premio or “award winning.” The experienced, well-trained miller plays a key role in the final production of a superior EVOO, and he or she must be familiar both with state-of-the-art milling technologies as well as a knowledge of different olive varieties. Ultimately, it is the miller who makes decisions that enhance the unique aromas and characteristics of a truly outstanding extra virgin oil. Trust is paramount in this relationship, as a year’s worth of work in the fields depends on the miller’s skill. Our organic oils are milled by a Central Coast certified miller recognized for producing numerous award-winning oils, including Luretík’s Sicily which received a Gold Medal and Best in Show at the 2024 Los Angeles County International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.