Texas Olive Oil Industry: Local Farms Building Agricultural Innovation

Texas has spent three decades quietly building a homegrown olive oil industry—and several orchards are right in Houston's backyard. Winter Storm Uri in 2021 hit these farms hard, but a handful of determined growers are still at it. Here's what that means for you and why it's worth your attention.

In 2009, cattle rancher Randy Brazil and neighbor Gino Venitucci planted a 34,000-tree orchard in Devers, about 55 miles from Houston. That farm became Southeast Texas Olive Co., whose oil once appeared in Houston-area grocery and liquor stores and even in a Netflix series. Retired chef Frank Majowicz runs Dell's Favorite Olive Ranch in Elgin, with around 1,000 trees—500 original survivors and 500 replanted after Uri. Mike Walzel launched Fortissimo near Navasota in 2020 and now leads the Texas Association of Olive Growers. Uri froze many orchards down to the roots. Some farmers walked away. Others, like Majowicz, rebuilt and are expecting a harvest they can sell. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (the university's applied research and education arm) is actively studying which olive varieties and regions hold the most promise for Texas's climate.

Use what you learned here to shop and eat with a little more intention. Seek out Texas olive oil at local grocery stores, farmers markets, or directly from farms. When you compare labels, check the harvest date—fresher really does mean better flavor and more of the good stuff your body benefits from. If you want to go deeper, reach out to farms about visiting an orchard or attending a tasting. You'll get a firsthand look at how your food is grown, and you'll be putting money directly into the hands of people doing the hard work.

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This story connects to a few bigger things happening in Houston and Texas. Local food systems are becoming a real priority here—farmers markets are growing, and more restaurants are sourcing regionally. Texas olive oil fits right into that movement. It also ties into how climate affects what we can grow and eat close to home. Winter Storm Uri reminded all of us how quickly things we take for granted can change. Supporting the farmers who are rebuilding is one concrete way to invest in what comes next.

Texas olive oil is fresher than most of what you find on store shelves. Oils shipped from Europe are often more than a year old by the time they reach you. Fresh oil tastes better and delivers stronger health benefits. Beyond your kitchen, buying local olive oil supports rural jobs, keeps farmland active, and helps build a more resilient food system for the Houston region. These farmers are doing something genuinely hard—growing a Mediterranean crop in Texas—and a few of them are still standing.