Olive oil production booms in Yolo County

Driven by rising consumer demand for olive oil, growers are buying land for olives or adding olive acreage at a swift pace — allowing them to diversify with a crop that uses relatively little water and thrives in low-quality soil. The California Olive Oil Council estimates that 5,000 new acres will be planted each year in California through 2020. It estimates olive oil production will hit 2 million gallons for this year’s crop, up from 1.4 million gallons for 2011-2012.