How olive oil led to a lifelong friendship

BERKELEY, Calif.  — The Ecology Center Farmers’ Market here is not simply a source of food, beverages and more. This market has become the home to people from all around the world who explore the extent of produce and form new relationships with people within their community. With over 50 unique vendors, shoppers have been combing into new discoveries and tastes since 1987.

“I love growing stuff myself so sometimes it’s a way to taste something… that I might want to plant, which is fun,” Lisa Jobson, a local shopper, said. “I come for the novelty and the super fresh [food].”

The vendors inform curious customers on the food they love and broaden their knowledge on the process of growing fresh produce.The educational and social aspect of the farmers’ market… is so much fun, and getting feedback of your product as well,” Sebastian Bariani, who works for the family business, Bariani Olive Oil, said.

The market also brings new connections. “From my perspective as a vendor, the relationships with customers and tourists are ones you don’t get at the supermarket,” Bariani said.

“We met at San Francisco Market maybe 15 years ago… you can’t help but learn about olive oil when you’re working with him,” Tom Dawson, one of his friends, said. “To me, I love olive oil, and it’s more fascinating. I’ve been making olives, too, for the [business].” The excitement and fascination the vendors have for their products shows, too.

Tom Dawson (left) has been involved in Bariani Olive Oil for 15 years and Sebastian Bariani (right) for 28 years. (Photo by Kennedy McDermott)

“When it comes to lifestyle, I love the open air, the freedom that I find in farming,” Bariani said. “I don’t really come here for sales.” The production of olive oil is a year-long process.

“Every day of the year he’s committed to making olive oil, even though he’s only really making it three months out of the year,” Dawson said. “During those three months, he’ll work 24-hour days.”

Dawson added that Bariani’s 80-year-old mom and dad work, too.

“His dad’s driving around in a tractor spreading olive paste to use as an organic amendment,” part of the Barini farming technique, he said. The company website describes alternative manufacturing through packaging reduction.

The Berkeley market, which runs three times a week in different parts of the city year-round,  was the first in the country to ban plastics. The Bariani Olive Oil website describes their alternative manufacturing through packaging reduction, too.

“We do so many things. We look forward to the pruning of the orchard and it’s exciting… the pruning of the orchard starts in January and it goes until the end of April. Producing the olive oil is basically from October until the end of December so during that stage of the year, we’re just super excited about the olive oil making and the smells that fill the air,” Bariani said.  

“It’s just amazing.”

For more information, visit the farmers’ market website and the Bariani Olive Oil website.