Rescuers Restore Abandoned Olive Groves in California and the Mediterranean

Entrepreneurs and nonprofits from California to the Mediterranean are restoring abandoned olive groves to revive communities and protect the environment. Near Los Angeles, Giulio Zavolta and Rachelle Bross bought and rehabilitated a 20-acre grove, pruning century-old trees and rebuilding production for their Olivaia brand.

The couple brought in chainsaws to lower overly tall trees, then spent years nursing the orchard back to health; Mr. Zavolta said, "It looked like a war zone." They discovered eight distinct cultivars, produced award-winning oils and now make between about 2,000 and 4,000 liters a year.

The article notes that 13.6 million acres of olive groves — and billions of trees — worldwide are at risk of abandonment. Across the Mediterranean, projects range from Spain’s Apadrina Un Olivo, which charges 60 euros a year to sponsor trees and has recovered 26,000 trees (9,000 sponsored), to Italian efforts that have rescued thousands more.

Apadrina’s work in Oliete has helped the village grow to 367 residents, employs 43 people and draws about 2,000 tourists annually. In Italy, Abandoned Grove has restored more than 5,000 trees in Florence-area groves and Ager Oliva manages about 4,000 trees with 20-year contracts; a 2019 study cited in the article said a single olive tree can store 51 kilograms of carbon a year, and a 2025 report suggested older groves support pollinators.

Key Topics

Culture, Olive Groves, Los Angeles, Oliete, Apadrina Un Olivo, Olivaia