The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a Texas Olive Update and Grower’s Seminar on Sept. 30 in Uvalde.
This free event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, located at 1619 Garner Field Road. Registration is not required but space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP as soon as practical at tx.ag/TxOliveUpdate.
While this educational event is geared towards commercial production, anyone is welcome to participate.
For those who cannot attend in person, an online virtual attendance option will be offered. Those attending virtually must RSVP to receive the online link.
“This event will provide an update on the status of the Texas olive industry and on research efforts regarding olive production in Texas,” said Stephen Janak, program coordinator and AgriLife Extension program specialist with the Sustainable Fruit Project of Texas A&M’s Department of Horticultural Sciences. “The seminar will address those lessons learned over the past 25 years of commercial olive production in Texas and set the stage for what the future of the industry might look like.”
Optimizing Texas olive production
Larry Stein, Ph.D., an AgriLife Extension horticulturist and associate head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences who is based at the Texas A&M AgriLife center in Uvalde, said one of the many positive aspects of olive trees is their tolerance to drought once established.
“However, we still need to be able to manage water for potential optimal production and oil quality,” Stein said.
Janak said various challenges of olive production will be discussed in detail at the seminar, along with findings and recommendations to mitigate challenges. Attendees will also hear presentations on the results of research on olive cold-hardiness and disease resistance.
Findings from six years of coordinated variety trials across Texas will be discussed, and there will be a tour of one of these trials on-site. The program will conclude with a discussion on the best practices for olive tree and olive oil production in Texas.
“This program will help prospective growers decide if olives are right for them, and will empower current growers with improved understanding,” Janak said.
For more information on the program and to RSVP for in-person or virtual attendance, contact Janak at stephen.janak@ag.tamu.edu or 361-649-8561.
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