|
Setting up an Olive Orchard |
Obtain some land with the right soil and climate characteristics. See the newsletter for land for sale or orchards to lease. Expect to pay $5,000 to $50,000 per acre of established orchards in California, depending on the region. Or buy raw land and level, deep till, fumigate, and install an irrigation system. Get help for irrigation needs by contacting Farming Suppliers. To get enough olives to bother milling, buy at least 2 acres. You will probably want to plant 5 acres or more if you are thinking of making a commercial venture of it and from 100 to 500 acres to support a family (upwards of 5000 trees). For planting schemes visit this site: Antonio
| land cost per acre |
$1,000 to $50,000 in California |
| tree cost | $8.00 on up depending on size, variety |
| trees per acre | 40 to 300 depending on terrain, pruning |
| cost to prepare land, plant trees | very variable - average $7,500 |
| cost to maintain 1 acre of orchard per year |
$500 - $2000 |
| Cost to harvest per ton |
$260 - $320 |
| Pounds of olive per tree |
80 lbs - dependent on variety, pruning |
| Tons per acre - mature trees |
2 - 5 |
|
Average sales price per ton of olives |
$500 |
|
Gallons of oil per ton |
12 - 50 |
|
Retail price of oil - 500 ml premium |
$7 - $30 |
|
University of California publications- Olive Production Manual - buy the book Slide Presentation: Oil Olive Varieties and Production Systems Olive Oil Cost Study North Coast - 1999 | |