Jim Henry has been waiting a long time for a year like this - when the weather was as perfect as can be expected, and olives were collected from the 40,000 trees per ton. It was what I dreamed about when I started planting olive trees in Texas in the early 1990, and was told by almost everyone asked what I was dreaming the impossible dream.
[Despite the disappointment of others, Jim Henry pushed forward with his plan for growing olives in Texas. After some trial and error, he finally found success. - Courtesy] photo
Despite the disappointment of others, Jim Henry pushed forward with his plan for growing olives in Texas. After some trial and error, he finally found success. - Courtesy photo
The dream that began as an observation, then an idea, and eventually became the Texas ranch olive oil in Carrizo Springs, Texas Olive Oil Council and a potential crop for farmers in parts of Texas, where climate usually be trusted to cooperate. Henry believes that garnered nearly three tons of olives this year, by far, the most it has produced. Proved to be "one of those years" - but in a good way.
"The two years were less than perfect, but this year we had a spectacular time and the amount of rain," said Henry. "It was really a once in a lifetime crop."
The harvest began in September amid a certain amount of fanfare. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas Olive Oil Council held a seminar on September 14 and 15 that included an appearance by state Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. There was no fanfare in 1994 when Henry planted the first olive trees in Texas, and there was little support for agriculture extension agents and researchers.
[Despite the disappointment of others, Jim Henry pushed forward with his plan for growing olives in Texas. After some trial and error, he finally found success. - Courtesy] photo
Despite the disappointment of others, Jim Henry pushed forward with his plan for growing olives in Texas. After some trial and error, he finally found success. - Courtesy photo
The dream that began as an observation, then an idea, and eventually became the Texas ranch olive oil in Carrizo Springs, Texas Olive Oil Council and a potential crop for farmers in parts of Texas, where climate usually be trusted to cooperate. Henry believes that garnered nearly three tons of olives this year, by far, the most it has produced. Proved to be "one of those years" - but in a good way.
"The two years were less than perfect, but this year we had a spectacular time and the amount of rain," said Henry. "It was really a once in a lifetime crop."
