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<pre><< In actuality, the metro region of New York City has a per capita
consumption of in excess of four times the national average making it the
largest consumption market in the US. Both San Francisco (#5) and LA are in
the top ten markets so perhaps California as a state might rank ahead of
Metro New York but I would have to check the figures. >>

d,

Agreed about metro areas. I was just looking at state figures, which I
could get for you, if I can find them again. <G> We have millions more
people in CA, so I had thought that accounted for the difference in
consumption. But again, I'll have to look it up again.

<< While it may be true that California produces the most olive oil, it
pales in comparison to the 165,000 metric tons that are imported into the US
last year. California's share of the total US market is still quite tiny in
overall consumption figures. The only other state producing olive oil that
I know of is Texas. >>

Oh yeah...the oil production here is somewhere about .2% of the world's
output. One fifth of one percent is pretty insignificant, IMO. <G> Where
we make a splash on the radar screen is in table olives, with somewhere
about 13%, according to U.C. Davis. But what we lack in quantity, we're
making up for in quality. We're finally starting to win gold medals in
Italy itself for some of our gourmet olive oils. I like to think it's a
harbringer of things to come...not unlike when California wines started
competing with French wines 30 years ago. Now, we have VERY significant
sales, worldwide.

Hmmm....quite a few similarities between CA and Australia. I've never done
a comparison of our respective climates, but they should have some very
similar characteristics, given that we're having similar agricultural
output.

Best regards,

Antony
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