All of Calolea olive oils have been awarded the "Seal of Quality" from the California Olive Oil Council since 1999 and numerous awards from all over the world!
Our small family farm attributes it's superior tasting oils to our unique growing terroir. Calolea's olive trees were planted over 100 years ago in the same way the Spanish Missionaries plantedtheir orchards.
In 1999, Monica and Michael Keller bought 10 acres in Loma Rica, California, and started Calolea Olive Oil. The first year they produced just 80 gallons of oil, but their timing was perfect as Californians were hungry for quality olive oil.
Calolea's hand crafted olive oil has been certified “extra virgin” by the COOC and has an acidity level of 0.13%. The olives on the Keller’s 100 year old Mission and Manzanillo trees are hand picked, custom milled and cold pressed within 24 hours to create the highest quality oil possible.
In 2008 Calolea received the BEST IN SHOW award at the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition, the highest award given at the competition. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Calolea received the BEST IN CLASS award, and Calolea continues to rack up prestigious awards every year.
Our average day consists of water management for our orchards, processing website orders and shipping them, replying to e-mails and phone orders and projecting needed supplies.
Our Family Business of producing olive oil has been a blessing and our customers are the best ever. Our son is 13 now and we love to incorporate him into our business and teach him.
We have been very lucky to have been selected as a featured farm for many International magazines from "Fine Cooking" to "John Deer", promotions for Olympic Sports, Farm to Table events, Sales to Japan, we've really been lucky with opportunities over the past 17 years!
Our interaction with customers from the farmers markets is very special, the relations we have built with so many people over the years has been incredible, and they love to share in our progress and Family
Every year we make a huge effort to photograph the event and people interacting, one year a very sweet couple approached us to please send them the pictures. We did and they have been forever grateful and nice friends.
I believe this is our 6th year on the trail
Because Calolea is located on the most southern end of Butte County, It has been terrific for us to get visitors from Chico and surrounding areas, they seem to love visiting our farm.
The Trail continues to get more popular and there is always a great crowd who say they wouldn't miss it for anything!! We are impressed with the marketing updates that have been happening, especially with Winter/Holiday Gift outreach.
Since my husband Michael Keller is the farmer and founder of Calolea, I would have to say his mentor was McEvoy Ranch in the early days of our business, and a savvy Italian Man from Bodega Bay named Carlo who provided good advice.