Introduction to Olive Production for Oil

The UC Davis Olive Center announced a one-day introductory course that will present "cost-effective advice" for the production of olives for oil.

"Whether you are considering planting olives or you have already put in an orchard, you are sure to learn a lot from the experts in the field," organizers said.

"Avoid costly mistakes by getting the best knowledge available on traditional, medium-density plantings and super-high-density methods of producing olives for oil."

Organizers said the presenters will include industry professionals as well as industry professionals.

The program includes these topics: market overview, orchard establishment, modern production systems, harvest machinery options, training and pruning, pest and disease control, orchard floor management and production economics.

The one-day course is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at California State University, Fresno. (The date is the day after the close of the Feb. 9-11 World Ag Expo in Tulare.)

The fees are $250 through Jan. 31, $275 thereafter. Fees include lunch, as well as electronic copies of the course presentations.

FYI: A more in-depth class is scheduled June 25-26 at UC Davis; the fees are $525 through May 19, $550 thereafter.)

Registration and more information, or contact Kiley Athanasiou, (530) 752-5233 or kathanasiou@ucdavis.edu.

Cheese Loves Beer: Mastering the Marriage

The Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science announced March 6 as the date for the second annual Cheese Loves Beer event.

Cheese Loves Beer: Mastering the Marriage is scheduled from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in the RMI Sensory Building, with registration beginning at 12:30.

The presenters are listed as Charlie Bamforth, Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences; and Moshe Rosenberg, professor and specialist, Dairy Engineering and Technology.

Organizers said the cheese side of the program will examine the evolution of unique flavors and other attributes, while the beer side of the program will explore the rich diversity of styles and flavors. Another topic, of course, will be the ideal pairing of cheese and beer!

Specifically, the agenda looks like this:

• "Beer is Best for Brie and Beyond" (Bamforth)

• "Cheese — From Serendipity to Science and Art" (Rosenberg)

• Beer-cheese pairing (Bamforth and Rosenberg)

The cost with advance registration is $55, or $45 for UC Davis affiliates; the cost the day of the event will be $65. RSVPs are due by Feb. 26 to Kim Bannister, (530) 754-6349 or kbannister@ucdavis.edu.