La Riojana Co-op is well-known around Weaver Street for producing great wines that we buy directly from the winery. Last fall, we also began buying fair trade olive oil from the Argentinian farmer co-op. La Riojana had facilities for crafting and bottling olive oil but previously had sold it only in Argentina, where they could sell it in bottles (not in low-priced bulk form). We encouraged them to sell it to co-ops in the United States.
Riojana olive oil is special for many reasons: not only are the farmers paid a fair wage for their olives, and the communities paid fair-trade premiums for community projects, but the oil has a unique flavor. Our specialty merchandiser, Peg, describes it thus: “It has an amazing concentration of flavor, is high-toned with only a hint of spice on the finish and a full unctuous mouthfeel, and has fruity notes that go on for miles.” The flavor profile results from the altitude: the olives are grown at 3000 feet. Most olives in the world are grown at lower altitudes.
