Olive Oil: Made in Arizona
Take a Tour of Queen Creek Olive Mill
On the tour you'll learn the entire process, from olive picking to packaging.
Judy Hedding,
Your Guide to Phoenix, AZ.
December 2005
The olive pressing season occurs from mid-October through December. Visitors may bring ripe olives from their trees to the Queen Creek Olive Mill and exchange them for freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil.
Free tours are offered during business hours in olive-pressing season. Check the Queen Creek Olive Mill web site for specific days that tours are available, or call 480-888-9290.
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Queen Creek Olive Mill is not an overwhelming structure, nor is it a well-known stop in anyone's Arizona tour itinerary (yet). The Queen Creek Olive Mill is a family owned company that grows and presses olives for the production of high quality extra virgin olive oil.
The Arizona extra virgin olive oil is a blend of several olive varieties. The classic olives of Tuscany; the Lechino, Frantoio, Pendolino, and Lucca; the Mission Olive; the Spanish varietals Manzanillo and Sevillano, as well as the Italian Baroni and Grappelo, and the Greek Kalamata.
The Queen Creek Olive Mill is located at Rittenhouse Rd. south of Ocotillo Road. This map will help you find it.
When you get there, and you see the facility pictured above, you'll ask the same question that almost everyone asks when they walk in the door--where are the olive trees???
Where Are the Olive Trees?
The olive tees that produce the olives processed at the Queen Creek Olive Mill come from various sources, but most of the extra virgin olive oil being produced here comes from a grove of trees less than 1/2 mile from the processing facility.
Perry Rea and his family planted the olive trees in Queen Creek in 1997, and this is the first working olive farm and mill in Arizona.
Taste the Olives and Olive Oils
Visitors to Queen Creek Olive Mill can sample their products, including flavored extra virgin olive oils, stuffed olives, and tapenades. In this picture, Perry Rea, Queen Creek Olive Mill’s owner and master blender, answers questions about the olive oils.
Take a Tour of Queen Creek Olive Mill
The olive pressing season occurs from mid-October through December. Visitors may bring ripe olives from their trees to the Queen Creek Olive Mill and exchange them for freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil.
Free tours are offered during business hours in olive-pressing season. Check the Queen Creek Olive Mill web site for specific days that tours are available, or call 480-888-9290.
Shopping! Olive Oil, Olives and More
There are many flavors of extra virgin olive oils available in the store, as well as olives, tapenades (olive and olive oil spreads), and other locally produced products such as nuts, honey, and crackers. There are pre-packaged gift boxes, too.
Need more ideas for cooking with your new supply of Arizona olive oil? You can pick up free recipe cards for dishes such as Tuscan Bean Salad and Lemon Chicken with Rosemary.
The store accepts credit cards. Need a housewarming gift? A 'Welcome to Arizona' gift? Something for the relatives back east? Problem solved! You can also order products from Queen Creek Olive Mill
Copyright 2005 About.com, The New York Times.
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