Seaman: Coeur d’Alene Olive Oil?
Eric Seaman: Nice article in todays paper as I am a big fan of olive oil but shouldn’t we call it The Temecula Olive Oil Company or the Corning (Calif.) Olive Oil Company? I mean that’s where it’s really made. I stopped by their both at Art on the Green and said “oh cool an olive oil company in town” when I followed that with, “Where in town is the factory that you produce it?” some dashing gentleman said “ In California.” So I got to thinking that it was kind of a drag that such a good item was merely Coeur d’Alene in name alone. No connection to the community other than using the Oh so flavorful Coeur d’Alene moniker which I’m sure does well in SoCal. Granted Coeur d’Alene Brewing doesn’t grow its own hops and what not but, the libation is brewed here, created here by people who live here. Coeur d’Alene Cellars of course doesn’t grow their grapes here but they bring them in, from as far as France, and actually make the wine here, and a fine Sirah they make at that. The closing statement in the article has a quote that says, “I think it’s fabulous that we have an olive oil company here in Coeur d’Alene. We no longer have to go to CA for stuff like this.” Interesting comment, I suppose we don’t have to go to CA or Fla for orange juice either just change the label to Coeur d’Alene Orange Juice. Or, how about Coeur d’Alene Sardines? Better yet The Coeur d’Alene Mayonnaise Company.
DFO: Eric makes a great point here. If it's not produced here, is it right to use Coeur d'Alene in the product name? As an aside, my wife is from Corning, Calif. She grew up about 2 blocks from the big olive plant, which is set alongside the railroad tracks in an otherwise residential area. Corning is known as the "Olive Capital of the World." Anyone who's driven I-5 through northern California has seen the billboards advertising the Olive Pit, where you can find all sorts of olive products. The only thing olive that I've seen here is the Russian olive tree in my back yard and a cluster of Portuguese siblings whose last name means Olive Tree.
