Citizens of Soil

Michael met Maria on a boat between Santorini and Crete. Her overwhelming Cretan hospitality (which they’re famous for) struck up an instant friendship. Maria came to visit London; Michael returned many times to Greece (soon with the addition of Sarah) and the friendship and ‘extended’ family grew.

With each year and every new visit, we learned more about the culture, the people, the land.

The family are small-holder farmers, making things like wine and fruits, but we became obsessed with the quality and flavour of the oil, in particular.

We started bringing it back for our family and friends in London and the US. Every time we used it, the taste connected us back to Maria's table in Crete. Our friends would try it and re-affirm; there's something special here, y'all...

Our community begins with the farmers. For too long, they’ve been taken advantage of by the olive oil industry—squeezed out of fair profit to fit the global commodity exchange and their oil blended with others so it’s beyond recognition.

We pay our producers above market prices, and directly into their pockets. This way grove owners can focus on the quality of the oil and continue to implement regenerative farming techniques to preserve biodiversity and soil quality.

This is just one way we’re challenging the status quo of the olive oil industry.

You, dear subscriber, gifter and first-time buyer are also a part of this community. Not only does our extra virgin olive oil look beautiful displayed in your kitchen or sitting on the table, it’s also represents your respect for farmers, the environment and your own food experience.

Together, we can learn more with each harvest and enjoy delicious olive oil on more of the food we love.

Buy Citizens of Soil at Ratton Pantry.