California Olives
Dynasty of Olive Oil
California's Liquid Health Food
Nick Sciabica & Sons Olive Oil
by Judith Gerber
In 1936, Nicola Sciabica and his son, Joseph started cold-pressing olive oil. Now, 70 years later, the Sciabica family continues producing 100% extra virgin olive oil in the same time-honored way, making them the oldest olive oil producer in California.
Joseph Sciabica, now 91 is still at the helm of the company as the CEO, while the rest of his family, his wife Gemma, his son Nick (named for his grandfather), son Dan, and grandson Jon, continue to make high quality, 100% California grown olive oil.
The Modesto based company produces a wide variety of olive oils that have won awards worldwide and offers over a dozen varieties of California Extra Virgin Olive Oil including flavored olive oils in lemon orange, garlic, basil, Jalapeno, and rosemary.
So, what makes their olive oils different? Jon Sciabica says their oils stand out because of the care they put into producing them. According to Jon, “My dad has always said its not rocket science. If you start with good olives you are halfway there and we only use the top-notch olives. And, its our meticulous attention to detail that makes them better. We are one of a few companies that keeps all of our varieties separate as they are pressed resulting in different varieties of olives with a distinct flavor profile.”
The most sought after non-flavored oils are the Sevillano Variety Fall and the Mission Limited. “Nothing comes as close to butter as our Mission Limited Release in spring. People loved it so much, we just kept making more and more,” says Jon.
Jon indicates that the flavored oils are popular because of the unique way they are made. “Our flavored olive oils are not flavored like other flavored oils. We send fresh fruit or herbs right through the press with the oil. The other guys make the oil and then they add things in. Then they heat the oil, which ruins the flavor. You only want to heat it once, and that’s when you are cooking with it. When it’s heated the flavors and aroma are released and if you heat it again, they don’t come out the second time.”
Sciabica Olive Oils are available in a number of ways depending on the type desired. The unfiltered, fresh pressed line is oil that is only a few days out of the press and is in short supply. It is available either online or through the gift store location only. The filtered retail line is available online, at the gift store, in select grocery stores in Modesto and the Bay Area, and at Farmers’ Markets in Modesto and San Francisco’s Saturday Ferry Plaza Market.
In addition to their olive oils, holiday shoppers can buy special gift packs for the holidays loaded with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pasta for a complete Italian meal, tomato products, vinegars, or one of Gemma Sciabica’s four cookbooks featuring recipes made completely without animal fat and all made with olive oil.
Jon says the best reason to buy olive oils as gifts is because of the health benefits. “We have wonderful heart healthy gifts; it lowers bad cholesterol, and raises good cholesterol. It’s got a wonderful effect, it cleans out the arteries replacing saturated fat, and it can add years to your life.”
As living evidence of this, Jon points to his grandfather, Nick who at 91, still comes to work every day and works the farmers’ markets in Modesto. “By 7:15 in the morning he’s ready to go to work so Dad takes him in. It’s all due to the olive oil,” says Jon.
Visitors to Sciabica and Sons Gift Shop can enjoy a virtual tour of the olive oil making process by viewing a video in the Tour Room that traces the process of oil making from tree to pressing.
Judith Gerber is an agriculture and garden writer from Torrance California. Write to her at farmwriter@californiafamilyfarms.com.
For More Information:
Nick Sciabica & Sons Gift Shop, 2150 Yosemite Blvd, Modesto CA, 95354, (209) 577-5067
To Order Sciabica Products Online, www.sciabica.com
