Historical Historical Perspective on Perspective on

Olives in GeorgiaOlives in GeorgiaDr. Gerard KrewerDr. Gerard Krewer

UGA Extension PomologistUGA Extension Pomologist

Climate of the SoutheastClimate of the SoutheastWhere do olives have the best Where do olives have the best

chance?chance?

Olive Belt

Too Warm?

Too cold

St. AugustineSt. AugustineThe Capital of Spanish “La The Capital of Spanish “La

Florida”Florida”About 400 Years AgoAbout 400 Years Ago

Spanish Colonial PeriodSpanish Colonial Period (1595-1684) (1595-1684)

Two provinces of La Two provinces of La Florida were in GeorgiaFlorida were in Georgia

MocamaMocama GualeGuale

Eighteen missions were Eighteen missions were located in Georgia, located in Georgia, some for a period of some for a period of almost 100 years. almost 100 years.

Olives were planted at Olives were planted at many of the missionsmany of the missions

Typical Mission ChurchTypical Mission Churchin Georgiain Georgia

ConventoConventoExtensive farms supplied the Extensive farms supplied the

missionmission

English Colonial EraEnglish Colonial Era

1732-17761732-1776 Numerous olive trees were found at Numerous olive trees were found at

the old mission sitesthe old mission sites More olive trees were planted in the More olive trees were planted in the

experimental gardens in Savannahexperimental gardens in Savannah

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Circa 1804Circa 1804 Apparently Thomas Apparently Thomas

Jefferson obtained Jefferson obtained olive trees for James olive trees for James Couper on St. Couper on St. Simons Island, Ga.Simons Island, Ga.

Shared with Phineas Shared with Phineas Nightingale on Nightingale on Cumberland Island, Cumberland Island, Ga. Ga.

James Hamilton CouperJames Hamilton Couper

Also planted 200 Also planted 200 trees from Europe trees from Europe on St. Simons in on St. Simons in 1825.1825.

Produced both olive Produced both olive oil and table olivesoil and table olives

General Nathanael General Nathanael GreeneGreene

Found Spanish olive Found Spanish olive trees on this trees on this plantation on plantation on Cumberland Island, Cumberland Island, Ga. in the 1780’s.Ga. in the 1780’s.

Planted additional Planted additional groves with trees groves with trees from France from from France from the the Jefferson/Couper Jefferson/Couper connection. connection.

Thomas SpaldingThomas Spalding

Imported trees Imported trees from Italy in 1827from Italy in 1827

One of the great One of the great agriculture agriculture experimenters of experimenters of the antebellum the antebellum South South

Produced both oil Produced both oil and table olivesand table olives

Jefferson Olive? Fruiting on Jefferson Olive? Fruiting on Cumberland Island, Ga. Cumberland Island, Ga.

20102010

Jekyll Island ClubJekyll Island Club

Tree growing near old Marina on Tree growing near old Marina on Jekyll until late 1970’sJekyll until late 1970’s

Made good table olivesMade good table olives

Sea Island, Ga. 2010Sea Island, Ga. 2010

Numerous olive Numerous olive trees have been trees have been planted for planted for ornament purposesornament purposes

Appear to be doing Appear to be doing wellwell

Questions??Questions??