Intro: 

Texas embraces a new cash crop! Bill McLean reports a few pioneers have demonstrated that olive trees CAN grow in Texas, and the potential for olive oil sales is tremendous.

McLean:

Texas Olive Oil Council founder Jim Henry says the growth of the olive industry in Texas has been phenomenal.  Ten years ago, there were less than a thousand commercial olive trees in Texas.  By last year, he said, that number had grown to 20-thousand.  This year, Henry has 40-thousand trees in his own orchard-about half of the total number of trees in Texas.

Henry:

:14 - There are already, with this orchard and other orchards, close to 85,000 trees as we speak, and I would not be a bit surprised if there's not a half million trees or close to it in the next two years.

McLean:

Henry says the U.S. imports more than 99 percent of the olive oil consumed here, and that demand is growing. He says a few producers, studying crops from Spain, have discovered which species of trees will thrive in various Texas soils. Using these secrets, Henry says, producers need only commit to the investment.

Henry:

:09 - There's a considerable cash outlay to start an orchard, but the returns are very, very good if you can wait three or four years.

McLean:

Henry says Texas olive production pioneers have paved the way for new producers by discovering costly mistakes. Having figured out those details, Henry predicts Texas will soon have a thriving olive oil industry. 

Henry:

:09 - In my opinion it's just a matter of time before you're going to see large international corporations in the agricultural business come to South Texas and plant olive trees.

McLean:

U.S. demand for olive oil has been going up about 20 percent a year, and nearly every drop comes from overseas. Henry predicts that will change because he brought in his first harvest last September of 100 tons of olives, from which he pressed 2,000 gallons of high-grade olive oil now in barrels and ready for commercial sale.  

McLean:

In Austin, I'm Bill McLean.