Cool Find: Nudo Adopt an Olive Tree

I came accross this company on Foodbuzz, it is such a novel idea I just had to share it with you all, basically you adopt an Olive Tree in Italy and they ship the yummy olive oil to you. We all know how good olive oil is for us, rich in monounsaturated fats known to maintain a healthy lipid profile and reduce heart disease.

Its a great gift idea, a bit pricey though but maybe folks could chip in. I emailed the company for a description, so here it is:

Nudo: Adopt-An-Olive Tree is an amazing gift for the foodie who has everything. Nudo is a family-run co-operative of olive groves dotted around a small hilltop village in the Marche region of Italy, and they offer the unique chance to own a little piece of the Italian countryside.

Instead of just buying olive oil, by adopting a tree, you can choose a specific olive variety, follow the progress of your tree for one year, support the local Italian family farmer who would have otherwise gone out of business, and (literally) taste the reward of your investment.

Olive growing has become more mechanized in recent years, which has led to both soil erosion and bland, mass produced oil. Because of this (and recent issues with lax regulations on olive oil origin), eco-conscious food lovers demand olive oil from small-scale, artisanal farmers. WithNudo, they know exactly where their oil comes from; right down to the GPS coordinates!

Once you adopt a tree from Nudo, you or the gift recipient will receive a personalized adoption certificate and information booklet that describes the tree, four 500ml tins of first cold press extra virgin olive oil from the tree in the spring (mid-April), three 250ml tins of infused extra virgin olive oil (i.e. lemon, chile, orange) in the fall, and an open invitation to come and visit, hug or water the tree in person. The adoption and products cost $150.00, making it a thoughtful present or very reasonable group gift.

What are your recent cool foodie finds?