OLEA 360: The UC Davis Olive Immersion Program
OLEA 360 connects UC Davis students with California’s olive and olive oil industry through hands-on technical training, mentorship, and industry collaboration. Students build practical skills and gain direct experience, preparing them to become future leaders in the field.
Students learn from Dr. Selina Wang and others who share their expertise and practical insights.
Explore Our Program’s Four Pillars
1. Production Systems - Build practical skills in orchard management, including irrigation, soil and plant nutrition, pest monitoring, pruning, and harvest planning.
2. Harvest & Milling Operations - Discover how harvest timing and milling decisions shape olive oil quality, from harvest logistics and milling processes to oil handling and storage.
3. Laboratory Quality Analysis - Explore the science behind olive oil quality through analytical chemistry, phenolic analysis, oxidative stability testing, and sensory evaluation.
4. Product Development & Public Engagement - Take olive oil from production to market through blending, bottling, labeling, marketing, product positioning, public tastings, and consumer education.
Thank you to all our mentors:
- Mike Madison, Yolo Press (Website)
- Malcolm and Karen Bond, Bondolio (Website)
- David Garci-Aguirre, Corto Olive (Website)
- Mary Mori and Lu Li, California Olive Ranch (Website)
- Xueqi (Shirley) Li, UC Food Quality (Website)
- Dewey Lucero, Wild Groves (Website)
This program is made possible with the support of Cortopassi Family Foundation, California Olive Ranch, and the UC Davis Student Farm.