Growing olives for oil has steadily increased in Northern California since California Olive Ranch (COR) began milling olives around 1998. Since then, acreage has increased and the company's share of domestic consumption has grown exponentially, according to COR President Gregory Kelley.

Olive harvest typically takes place in October and November. In some years, it can be difficult due to early-season rain or freezing temperatures.

The California industry is still sorting through different orchard configurations including tree spacing and density as grower Dan Kennedy will soon plant an orchard with about 1,400 trees per acre. He currently has orchard densities in the 600-to-800 tree range.

California Olive Ranch mills Kennedy's olives at its Artois facility.