Tuckaway Farm imports premium organic extra-virgin olive oil from the medieval town of Città della Pieve in western Umbria, where Amy-Louise and Mike lived and grew olives for four years. The groves from which the 2008 harvest olives come belong to Eros Mercuriali, who also owns the traditional stone press mill that turns the olives into oil. The olives and the mill are certified as organic by the Italian certifying agency, as well as by the USDA.
This is extremely high-quality extra-virgin olive oil from the Colli Orvietani (Orvieto Hills), the production zone within which Città della Pieve lies, recognized as one of the great olive-oil-producing areas in the world. Oil from the Colli Orvietani may use the designation DOP (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta, Name of Origin Protected; like DOC wines), a classification granted by the European Union (www.umbriadoc.com).
The olives—moraiolo, leccino, frantoio, and dolce agogia varieties—from which this oil was produced were harvested by hand, were treated carefully during the time they were off the tree (held in open crates, not more than half full), were brought to the mill for processing within twenty-four hours, and—most importantly—were subjected to a maximum temperature of 72ºF.
* Prices effective April 8, 2009. CSAs and other retailers, please contact us for pricing information.
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