MEET THE OWNERS
Richard & Myrna Meisler
Owners/Farmers
HOW WE BEGAN
My wife, Myrna, and I have gone from working in music industry to dedicating the last quarter of our lives to growing olives in west San Miguel, CA. Our legacy will be leaving 1200 olive trees to the next generation.
In 2006, encouraged by a family member, we began the adventure of olive farming. Watching our trees produce small green olives for fine extra virgin olive oil is the most exciting and rewarding aspect of our new lives.
We have been farming with a passion for the past 10 years. Our first crop in 2011 surprised and delighted us with highest awards. We have continued winning awards in international, state, and local competitions. The fruits of our labor have led to 51+ amazing awards and allowed us to progress fundamentals that we believe in: high-quality product, consumer-friendly labeling and the education of customers about the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
ABOUT OUR GROVE
We farm 10 acres of Tuscan Olives for olive oil. One of the challenges is hoping for the perfect weather as seasons change. We try to do everything right, but nothing is perfect. Of course, we do have fun racing up and down the hills. Richard usually drives the Kubota and Myrna drives the 4×4 to check for gopher holes, water sprouts and suckers. It’s a full-time job.
OUR PERFECT DAY
Our perfect day is full of friends, including the professional pickers, and family while in the grove harvesting our olives. Essentially, it’s a day during harvest with a gathering of people all doing their best to get us to the mill on time.
FARMING
has been a daily learning experience for us. Seminars, organizations and other olive growers have shared their knowledge through the years. Farmers helping farmers. We are producing some of the worlds finest healthful EVOO.
- Watering and pruning as needed
- Spraying organically to prevent the olive fruit fly
- Harvesting by hand not to bruise the fruit
- Using a local milling service for best quality oil
San Miguel Olive Farm is one of the most successful American producers, certified by the judges of the New York International Olive Oil Competition. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Worlds Best Olive Oil, NYIOOC WORLD 2019, 2020.
We take pride in every aspect of our work, sharing the olive farming experience with “hands on” educational tours which include tasting and sales.
We sell direct to the consumer, at road shows, online, and provide daily tastings at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, CA.
