Join correspondent Tom Wilmer reporting from Santa Barbara County for a visit with the Craig, Cindy and Chad Makela at their organic olive ranch in the rugged hills above Refugio State Beach.
Craig and Cindy Makela founded the Santa Barbara Olive Oil Company back in the early 1980s. The family business eventually morphed in to California Coast Naturals producing organic olives and olive oils. The Makela family's latest endeavor is Oleavicin with an array of natural products specifically targeted to deliver shingles pain-relief; lip balm and lip gels for cold sore relief, and more. The family also produces a coveted “dirty” martini mix.
The Makela’s trace their Santa Barbara ancestry back more than ten generations with the pioneering ancestors living in the first established structure, El Presidio, and were instrumental in California’s early agricultural endeavors.
Back in 1851, John Emile Goux brought olives and grape vines to Santa Barbara, where he planted the very first olive orchard. Ten generations later, the Makelas with their son Chad, carry on the centuries-long tradition with their organic California Coast Naturals and Oleavicin products.
California Coast Naturals grows 100% CCOF (California Certified Organic) Olives. The olives are hand harvested and either sun-dried or cured in salt brine. The Extra Virgin Olive Oil is pressed the same day as harvest (cold-pressed, unfiltered and unrefined.
*Chad's brother Cody was busy handling CFO duties at their corporate office in downtown Santa Barbara.
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