VALDOSTA — South Georgia’s known for a variety of things — education, entertainment, and for Valdosta being crowned TitleTown. Now, the region can add a new item to it’s repertoire: olives.
Ronnie Courson, brothers Jason and Sam Shaw, and Kevin Shaw have collaborated in purchasing land to develop their own Olive Farm in Lanier County.
“Well, the idea to begin an olive farm came from the fact that farmers are looking for other things to farm,” said Jason Shaw. “The blueberry market is saturated and there’s currently a surplus. So, now we’re forced to look for other things to grow. These olive farms initially started out in other parts of the world. Research has shown that there is a huge consumption of olive oil. Numbers reveal that within the next five years, the world is expected to use over 80 million pounds of olive oil, but there’s only 600,000 being produced in the U.S.”
The land is divided among all four partners who envision the olives to eventually be used to produce its own oils. There will be three types of olives grown, the Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki, which are pollinators.
“We hope to plant on more acres and encourage other farmers to do the same,” said Sam Shaw. “We want to press our own olives and bottle the oil to sell worldwide, starting and producing oil from the bottom up.”
Owners suggest that they are not only providing a service to the Valdosta area but to the state of Georgia.
“We plan on expanding to a facility where oils can be produced, which will produce several benefits,” said Jason Shaw. “We can get sales tax generated which will be good for the economy and by opening up a facility, we can increase the number of jobs in South Georgia.”
The planting process began in April and owners expect to undergo full production in its fifth rolling year. By September 2011, oil is expected to be produced and ready to sell.
“Of course we’re taking a risk because the process is new, but we’re taking a risk because we believe in it,” Jason Shaw said.
Sam Shaw provides that there are currently six olive farmers in Lanier with a total of 40 acres of land. The biggest challenges for producing quality product is the harsh weather of South Georgia.
“We have a lot more humidity than California (where the majority of olive farms are located),” said Jason Shaw. “So, we’re more susceptible to fungus and disease. But we have high density olive trees which produce a better quality.”
The land will be maintained by the owners. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the local county extension services’ agent have been working with owners.
“We brought in a consultant who currently has over 100 acres of olive land with his business partner,” said Jason Shaw. “They understand how to produce quality product and so he’s been a big help.”
For the last 10 years, the olive market has been prevalent within California. Considering olives aren’t cold resistant and can’t be kept below 14 degrees, South Georgia is ideal for harvesting.
Owners are currently working on developing and planting the land, and hope to extend its services throughout the state of Georgia and around the world.
For further information, contact Sam Shaw at (229)-300-9151.
Business
Related Photos
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Farm worker Selbin Martinez holds up one of the olive tree seedlings being planted.
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Beth Meeks with the Georgia Department of Agriculture with the four olive farm partners, from left, Kevin Shaw, Ronnie Courson, Jason Shaw, and Sam Shaw, looking over an olive tree seedling.
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Gloria Morales ties off one of the seedling on a cane stick in one of the fields being turned into an olive grove in Lanier County.
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One of the olive tree seedlings ready to be planted.
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Farm workers plant rows of olive tree seedlings in Lanier County.
Olives are the latest South Georgia crop
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