Our Orchards

Our orchards are located at UC Davis’ historic Wolfskill Ranch, where olives have been planted since 1842. We planted oil, table, and dual varieties for research and for our campus-grown olive oil. We harvest in late October or early November. Our thanks to AgromilloraSanta Cruz Olive Tree Nursery and D & V Nursery for donating olives for these orchards.

Medium density (5 ac/2 ha)

  • Planted in 2012 at 12 feet x 17 feet (3.6 m x 5.2 m), 213 trees per acre. Cultivars: Arbequina, Empeltre, Kalamon, Manzanillo, Mission, Ouslati, Picual, Sevillano and Taggiasca
  • Planted in 2018 at 10 feet x 17 feet (3.6 m x 5.2 m), 256 trees per acre. Cultivars: Noccelara del Belice and Cerasuola

Super-high-density (5 ac/2 ha)

  • Planted in 2019 and 2020 at 5 feet x 14 feet (1.5 m x 4.2 m), 622 trees per acre. Cultivars: Arbequina, Arbosana, Koroneiki, Chiquitita, Arbosana x Koroneiki and Lecciana