--- title: Notes from Our Olive Grove description: Discover how Corto’s sustainable farming practices, like planting cover crops, protect olive tree roots from excess rainwater during California's rainy season. These crops improve soil health, enhance drainage, and support biodiversity—helping us produce the highest quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, year after year. image: https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hubfs/Corto%20Cover%20Crop%20by%20Alexander%20Rubin_0090%20copy%20(2)-1.jpeg --- Contact Us Now! - [(301) 937-1003](tel:+13019371003) - [info@pizzauniversity.org](mailto:info@pizzauniversity.org) [![PizzaUniversity](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/HubspotLogoPizzaU.png?width=150&height=150&name=HubspotLogoPizzaU.png "PizzaUniversity")](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/) - [Home](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/) - [About](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/about/) - [Pizza University Courses](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/pizzauu-courses/) - [Gallery](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/gallery/) - [Blog](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/) - [Contact Us](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/contact-us/) - [Home](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/) - [About](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/about/) - [Pizza University Courses](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/pizzauu-courses/) - [Gallery](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/gallery/) - [Blog](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/) - [Contact Us](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/contact-us/) ![](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hubfs/Corto%20Cover%20Crop%20by%20Alexander%20Rubin_0090%20copy%20(2)-1.jpeg) # Notes from Our Olive Grove Published by [Pizza University Marketing](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/author/pizza-university-marketing) on Jan 27, 2025 11:22:46 AM **![Pizza U Blog Hero-1](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Pizza%20U%20Blog%20Hero-1.png?width=2048&height=1365&name=Pizza%20U%20Blog%20Hero-1.png)** **Happy Trees, Happy Olives** Just like people, olive trees hate having “cold wet feet” during winter. As California’s rainy season settles in, we help protect the tree roots in our groves from standing rainwater by planting “cover crops.” At Corto, we believe that happy trees produce the best olives, which make oil of the highest quality. By planting cover crops after our Fall Harvest, we “cover” the soil between each row of olive trees. In the winter, these cover crops naturally absorb excess rainwater, improve soil structure, and enhance drainage, which keeps our trees healthy and well-prepared for the year ahead. Eventually, when the cover crop is tilled back into the ground, it will continue to play a vital role in our commitment to sustainability by enriching the soil with organic matter, supporting biodiversity, and reducing the need for fertilizers. We see these practices as part of our larger, long-term goal—producing the freshest, most flavorful Extra Virgin Olive Oil for chefs who rely on the very best, day after day, and year after year. After all, happy trees make happy olives, helping us craft TRULY® exceptional olive oil. **Until next season, Ciao!** [**Learn more**](https://corto-olive.com/) Tags: [Pizza University All You Need to Know](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/tag/pizza-university-all-you-need-to-know), [Pizza University Partners](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/tag/pizza-university-partners) [Back to Blog](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Related Articles ## [Notes from Our Olive Grove](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/notes-from-our-olive-grove-1) [Read More](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/notes-from-our-olive-grove-1) ## [Discover Partanna: The Heart of Sicilian Olive Oil](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/discover-partanna-the-heart-of-sicilian-olive-oil) We are thrilled to introduce Pizza University's newest partner: Partanna, the real Sicilian Extra... [Read More](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/discover-partanna-the-heart-of-sicilian-olive-oil) ## [California Pizza Dreams for Culinary Arts Month](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/california-pizza-dreams-for-culinary-arts-month) All the leaves don’t need to be brown and the skies don’t need to be grey for us to dream about... [Read More](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/california-pizza-dreams-for-culinary-arts-month) Sign up to be notified when registration for upcoming courses becomes available and be added to our Pizza University Newsletter! **By Submitting this form I Give Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center Permission To Share The Information Collected With Its Partners. I Agree To The [TERMS AND CONDITIONS](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/student-enrollment-agreement-terms-and-conditions/) of Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center.** [![Pizza University](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/PizzaUniversity_October_2022/images/Pizza-U-Logo-rb-Copy.png?width=250&height=249&name=Pizza-U-Logo-rb-Copy.png "Pizza University")](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/) [(301) 937-1003](tel:+13019371003) [(301) 895-7990](tel:+13018957990) [info@pizzauniversity.org](mailto:info@pizzauniversity.org)   - - - - © 2023 [Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/). - [About](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/about/) - [Blog](https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/) - [Pizza University Courses](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/pizzauu-courses/) - [Discounts](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/discounts/) - [Media](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/media/) - [Gallery](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/gallery/) - [Culinary Workshops](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/culinary-workshop/) - [TERMS AND CONDITIONS](https://www.pizzauniversity.org/student-enrollment-agreement-terms-and-conditions/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pizza University Marketing", "url" : "https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/author/pizza-university-marketing" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-27T16:22:46.307Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-27T16:22:46.000Z", "headline" : "Notes from Our Olive Grove", "image" : [ "https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hubfs/Corto%20Cover%20Crop%20by%20Alexander%20Rubin_0090%20copy%20(2)-1.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/notes-from-our-olive-grove", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.pizzauniversity.org/hubfs/Pizza-University-Logo-1.png" }, "name" : "Marra Forni - Beltsville, MD" } } ```