Olive Oil Industry Grows in Texas

More and more Texans are taking to growing their own olives.

By Alexandra HartAugust 18, 2015 5:04 pm

Far from the original spindletop, a group of maverick Texas farmers are trying to make money on a whole different kind of oil: olive oil. For years, folks in South Texas have harvested olives, planting tens of thousands of acres of trees. Now, they say, it’s time for growth. Demand for olive oil both at home and abroad is high, and the trees growing in some of the world’s biggest producers – Spain, Italy – have been hard-hit this year with drought and disease. Is it time for Texas olive oil, then? Sandy Winokur is founder of Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, it’s a 258-acre ranch south of San Antonio with more than 40 acres devoted to olive trees. She spoke to the Standard about this new trend.

For full interview, listen to the audio at the top of the page.