Corto Olive Co.

Corto Olive Co operates from Lodi, California, drawing on family traditions tracing back to Lucca, Italy. The company harvests olives in autumn when fruit transitions from green to violet, earlier than traditional late winter harvesting, and processes them the same day with a state of the art mill. Each batch undergoes individual testing before storage in climate-controlled cellars. Corto employs sustainable practices including solar power that provides 100% of mill energy during summer months and 70% in winter, 100% drip irrigation with soil moisture monitoring, and water recirculation from mill operations to irrigate cover crops. The company packages oils in their FlavorLock box system, which blocks light and oxygen whilst maintaining a lower carbon footprint than alternative packaging. Corto sources from groves using high efficiency planting methods and explores innovative pest control including indigenous beneficial insects and owl boxes for natural pest management.