At the base of the San Tan Mountains in Queen Creek, Arizona, Queen Creek Olive Mill is harvesting olives in the fertile soil of this floodplain region. The area, known for its quality fruits and vegetables, provides the ideal growing conditions of sunny days and cool desert nights for the olives to thrive. Perry Rea, cofounder of the family-owned and -run olive mill, says Arizona-grown olives provide the perfect fruit for milling extra-virgin olive oil.
Although Rea has Italian heritage, he did not have a background in olives before starting the Queen Creek Olive Mill with his wife, Brenda, in 2000. Rea had turned 40, and he wanted a change in his life….