OLIVE PICKING

OLIVE PICKING IS AS MUCH ABOUT FAMILY, FUN AND TRADITION AS THE OLIVE OIL. TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH A SPECIAL EVENT IS INDEED A PRIVILEGE.

SOMETIMES PICTURES TELL A BETTER STORY

"VELI, I THOUGHT WE WERE YOUR SPECIAL IMPORTED LABOR. THOSE TWO GUYS AREN’T EVEN IN KINDERGARTEN YET!”

“YEAH, THEY’RE IN TRAINING.  WE DECIDED TO REPLACE YOU GUYS NEXT YEAR WITH YOUNGER PICKERS."

“COME ON...YOU REALLY DON’T THINK THEY CAN PICK MORE THAN US DO YOU?”

“SEE FOR YOURSELF. 

KEEP AN EYE ON THE LITTLE GUY WITH THE BIB.”

"DO I GET PAID EXTRA FOR POSING FOR PHOTOS?

THE SUN IS IN MY EYES AND I REALLY NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK IF I WANT TO GET MY SWEETS.”

“SEE THAT LADY OVER THERE IN THE BLACK HAT…SHE’S THE IMPORTED HELP.

SHE’S A LITTLE SQUIRT LIKE US.

TALKS WITH A FUNNY ACCENT."

"SHE’S PICKING ALL THE OLIVES OFF THE LOWER BRANCHES.  THEY SAID THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR US."

"WOULDN'T IT BE SOMETHING IF THE STRAP BROKE ON THE BOSS'S OVERALLS!"  

"I'M GONNA CLIMB THIS LADDER AND GET UP IN THE TREE LIKE THE BOSS." 

"GET DOWN.  NO ONE UNDER FOUR IS ALLOWED ON THE LADDER!  DO YOU WANT YOUR SWEETS?"

"THESE TREES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD.  I HOPE I GROW FASTER THEN THAT."

"UH OH, I THINK I DROPPED MY PASSIFIER IN THE BUCKET." 

"THINK I'LL TRY ONE.  

YUK! THEY'RE BITTER."

"PHEW. THAT’S THE LAST BUCKET OF OLIVES FROM THAT TREE.  I’M THIRSTY."

JUST 5 MINUTES,  PLEASE.  I NEED A REST.

"I TRIED TO JOIN THE DUDE WITH THE 2 DOGS, BUT THE LITTLE DOG STANDING SHOTGUN OVER THE BUCKET CHASED ME OFF."

"'THAT’S THE OWNER’S DAUGHTER.  THE BABY DOESN’T LOOK TOO HAPPY AT THE MOMENT.  DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY HIRED HIM, TOO? 

HEY, IS THAT MY BIB?"

"SEE THE BIG GUY WITH THE BLACK HAT, HE’S THE OTHER IMPORT.  I KINDA LIKE HIM.  HE KEEPS SMILING AT ME FROM THE TREE."

"DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT. 

THE BOSS IS TAKING A SMOKE BREAK!   DID YOU SEE HIM GIVE US THE EVIL EYE?" 

"ASK THE BLOND LADY THAT OWNS THE GROVE IF WE CAN SIT WITH HER AND HELP HER DO THE EASY STUFF.  SHE HAS A KIND FACE." 

"MAYBE IF I PLAY UP TO THIS VELIBOR GUY HE’LL LET US JOIN THEM ON THE PLASTIC."

"I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU SAID, BUT IT WORKED. I GUESS GUYS ARE JUST SUCKERS FOR A BLOND! KEEP HIM OCCUPIED WHILE I TAKE A QUICK BREAK."

"THAT IVA LADY HAS BEEN RELAXING FOR THE LAST HOUR.  WHAT’S SHE GOT TO BE TIRED ABOUT?  

AND WHAT’S WITH THE RUBBER GLOVES?"

"WELL, THIS IS OUR CONTRIBUTION.  DO WE GET OUR SWEETS NOW?"

 

"I GOT TO HAND IT TO YOU, VELI, THOSE TWO SAVED ME A LOT OF WORK."

 

 "NOT SO FAST, JOHN, YOU GET TO HAUL THE BAGS TO THE PROCESSING PLANT!"









THE PROCESSING IS LENGTHY.   FIRST THE OLIVES ARE WEIGHED.  THEN THEY ARE WASHED.  FROM THE BATH THEY GO INTO A GRINDER. THEN TO THE PRESS WHERE THE OIL FINALLY COMES OUT IN A SMALL STREAM SEVERAL HOURS LATER. THAT'S THE REWARD FOR TWO DAYS OF PICKING AS WELL AS A BOTTLE OF THE FRESHLY PRESSED OIL, WHICH MUST AGE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE USE.

IN BETWEEN THE PICKING, WE LAUGH, EAT SAMRA  (A TRADITIONAL CABBAGE DISH) AND DRINK THE HOMEMADE SPIRITS!  IT IS, FROM BEGINNING TO END, A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. 

AND, VELI, HAS ASSURED US THAT OUR JOBS ARE SECURE...IN SPITE OF THE YOUNGER COMPETITION!