How are black olives made?
Black olives are the fully ripe fruits of olive trees. Originally from the Mediterranean, black olives are a popular food in the U.S., commonly enjoyed on salads.GrowingBlack olives grow on shrubby trees that prefer warm climates. Most olives grown in the U.S. come from California, according to the California Rare Fruit Growers.HarvestingBlack olives are fully ripe olives. All olives are green when they are young. Green olives are picked and processed while they are not yet ripe, while growers wait to pick black olives until they are fully ripe.BriningBlack olives must be processed before they can be eaten. Olive producers in the U.S. soak fresh-picked black olives in a hot saltwater solution. This brining process removes black olives’ natural bitterness.FermentationWhile black olives sit in the brining solution, they begin to ferment. The fermentation process develops lactic acid, a natural preservative that helps the olives keep at room temperature without spoiling.CuringGreek black
