The Best Place to Buy California Olive Oil in Downtown Lodi
If you’re visiting downtown Lodi, don’t miss Olive Crush Farms! This charming little store offers an incredible variety of locally grown and produced California olive oils.
Downtown Lodi boasts shops that reflect this town’s agricultural roots. The downtown area is an impressive assortment of small, family-owned stores and restaurants. There’s so much to see and do while strolling along the historic tree-lined streets. A few can’t-miss shops truly speak to local production of California olives and olive oil. One such shop, Olive Crush Farms, is dedicated to showcasing local California olive oils produced in Lodi and throughout the neighboring four counties. Owner Christine Mouton is proud to offer visitors and locals a true taste of the region, and eagerly shares Lodi’s rich agricultural history with anyone who steps foot into her store.
Rooted in sustainability
Olive Crush Farms’ existence is a testament to Christine’s commitment to sustainability, which began on her land in the Valley Springs area, just outside of Lodi. She recalls, “When we moved to Valley Springs, we had a parcel of land. With the fire danger, you have to keep your land cleared. And I thought, ‘Hey, why don’t we plant something to take advantage of the land that we have.” Christine dove right in, researching what crop would grow best on her six-acre parcel. Ultimately, she landed on Arbequina olives. She explains, “I’m a California native, so picking a crop that can handle the ups and downs of water supply in California was very important. Olives are drought-tolerant trees; they’re beautiful, evergreen, and give you wonderful olive oil as well.”
In 2019, Olive Crush Farms opened in a Valley Springs location, featuring Christine’s Olive Crush Olive Oil along with olive oil by other local producers, and locally produced honey and assorted artisanal home goods.
The downtown Lodi storefront opened in early 2024 as a second location. Christine proudly says, “We specialize in supporting locally produced cold press olive oil from the four counties in our area: Calaveras, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Amador.”
The California Grown difference
Christine is clearly passionate about supporting local California makers and producers, but she’s also committed to extolling the virtues of California olive oils. While some folks still associate premium extra virgin olive oil with the Mediterranean region, California producers are held to even stricter standards.
Before any California Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) ever hits the shelves of your favorite grocery store, it is subject to a rigorous testing and labeling process. The oil must pass various chemical tests before being presented to a special tasting panel. There, experts evaluate the oil, looking for taste defects or unwanted flavors. Only olive oil that meets these extremely high standards can be labeled extra virgin olive oil. She adds, “California olive oils are unique in that there are strict standards for being considered extra virgin. All of us that produce EVOO send our oils off for lab testing and ensure they fulfill the requirements.”
A Word About California Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
Want to be sure your olive oil is fresh, the highest quality, and the real deal? Look for the COOC seal on bottles of California Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make sure you’re getting delicious 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Certified California EVOO uses stricter standards than international requirements, requiring the oil to pass chemical testing and a sensory analysis by a group of experts, called an organoleptic panel evaluation.
Stuck in Lodi (and loving it)
As the local saying goes, Christine is now “stuck in Lodi..and loving it”. When you visit Olive Crush Farms, you’ll find a brick-clad jewel box resplendent with bottles of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and more stacked from floor to ceiling. The store supports local agriculture by selling flavored and extra virgin olive oils from over a dozen local producers, including CaliVirgin, Mangini Ranch and, of course, her own Olive Crush Farms label. And Christine is happy to meet with up-and-coming local California olive oil producers. “If they come to me and say, ‘Hey, would you like to carry our product? As long as the labeling and quality are up to standards, absolutely. Bring ’em on in.”
Although the Lodi storefront is relatively new, Christine has embraced her new community with open arms. “I always like to be part of a community. Here in Lodi, the downtown business district is super supportive of their local small businesses. I’ve gotten involved with the Lodi Downtown Business Alliance, the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Lodi. Working together with other local businesses, we’re able to attract lots of people to our area and really enrich the commerce of our area.”
Plan your trip to Lodi
Thinking about getting stuck in Lodi? We think it’s a great idea and Christine encourages everyone to experience Lodi’s old-fashioned, family-friendly charm for themselves. Not sure where to start? She shares some of her favorite resources for planning the perfect trip: “If you’re thinking of visiting Lodi, go to the Visit Lodi website. Visit Downtown Lodi – we have amazing restaurants and all kinds of diverse small businesses here, and it’s all walkable. Then get out and about and visit some of our wonderful local olive oil producers as well as wineries.”
When in Downtown Lodi, be sure to pop into Olive Crush Farms, and other local small businesses. “Supporting small businesses is really important for the success of these businesses,” says Christine, “Buy local products!”
Visit Olive Crush Farms in Downtown Lodi!
104 N School St Suite 100
Lodi, CA 95240
209.400.7953
Call for updated hours of operation
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Article and photography by Hilary Rance.