Olive company has new owners

Sisters Olive and Nut Company's new owners, Mitch and Julie Mansfield, had a list of criteria when they looked for a business to buy:

It had to be in a small town with good quality of life. They wanted to live close to work, and they wanted to be able to run the business together. Their three daughters, age six, four and three, needed to be able to spend time with them at work.

Sisters Olive and Nut Co. beckoned and caught their attention. Within a few months, the Mansfields made the move from Reno, Nevada, and the machine shop owner and stay-at-home mom became Sisters' latest entrepreneurs.

It helped that Julie's sister and brother-in-law already owned a Sisters business, Out West Design. And the Mansfields appreciated time spent with the previous owners of Sisters Olive and Nut Co.

"Kevin and Susan King spent several months helping us learn the ropes," said Mitch. "And there are an impressive array of local regulars," he added, making the business a turn-key proposition with an enthusiastic clientele.

The shop is located at 101 E. Cascade Ave., in The Palace. It carries a wide variety of appetizer and cocktail foods, in addition to the namesake olives and nuts. Pickled vegetables, flavored garlic, salsa, teas and a small line of candy help to make a party successful. Local artists have their work for sale and gift baskets, either custom selected or pre-made, are available.

Being an olive novice, this correspondent wondered just what is done to olives to make them tasty. Turns out they are stuffed with things like garlic, flavored almonds, jalapeños, and different varieties of cheese. The Mansfields source their olives from a ranch in California that also creates the stuffings.

For customers wanting to get their olives one-at-a-time out of the jars, local artist Gayle Rodrigues created a line of prettily beaded olive spoons. These clever implements have a long handle and a hole for the brine to pass through.

The nuts come in a wide range of flavors from sweet honey roasted to spicy jalapeño. The store carries almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts and cashews.

The Mansfield's aren't planning any major changes, though they do aim to expand Internet sales. And, chocolate is coming. Julie is enthusiastic about carrying lines of chocolate covered nuts and raisins.

"This business is fundamentally sound with a quality product and service. We want to maintain that tradition," said Mitch.

For more information visit http://www.sistersolive.com or call 549-8047.