People of American Olive Farmer

Meet the People Behind the Work

At American Olive Farmer, everything we do is rooted in care—care for the land, for flavor, and for the people we serve. We’re a small California-based business offering extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar with intention, not at scale. Our work is personal, practical, and rooted in tradition—with a constant eye on quality.

While we no longer operate a company-owned olive mill, we partner exclusively with trusted third-party growers, millers, and bottlers who meet our exacting standards. Our balsamic vinegar is sourced from a small family in Modena, Italy—producers who have been making vinegar for centuries and who share our commitment to authenticity and exceptional flavor. Though our methods have adapted, our values remain unchanged: we are still farmers, tasters, and storytellers—more than bottlers, but never mere marketers.

Each person on this team brings something essential. Whether it’s being in the orchards, testing flavors in the kitchen, writing essays, or proofreading product details, we work together to offer transparency, trust, and food that tastes like someone cared. Because someone did.

Liz Tagami

Founder, Steward, and Storyteller

“I came to olive oil through the front door—as a brand consultant, not a farmer—but I stayed because of the trees.”

With over 25 years of executive experience and more than a decade running an international olive oil company, Liz Tagami brings both expertise and grounded perspective to her work. She began her journey with Lucero Olive Oil® as a consultant in 2008 and eventually became co-owner. In 2022, she and her husband Donald re-launched Lucero Olive Oil as part of American Olive Farmer, a direct-to-consumer shop focused on high-quality California extra virgin olive oil, authentic Modena balsamic vinegar, and the stories behind them.

Liz now serves as steward of the land, coordinating harvests with carefully chosen table olive and oil olive growers while converting an old fruit orchard into a regenerative olive grove. She is also a product developer, writer, and advocate for transparent, small-scale production. Whether she’s in the orchard, refining flavor notes, or responding to customers, her hands are in every aspect of this small but mighty enterprise. She has spent many years on sensory panels and international juries refining her palate, contributes to industry publications, and speaks internationally on the future of American olive oil.

Read more about Liz on LinkedIn. (This link will open in a new tab.)

Donald

Cook, Craftsman, and Keeper of the Kitchen

Donald is a former catering kitchen manager, pastry chef, and cooking teacher, and the quietly capable partner behind much of what happens in our kitchen. His culinary insight shapes many of the flavor profiles and recipes we share. When something tastes just right, he’s usually the one who dialed it in.

While most of our oils and pantry goods are fulfilled by a trusted third-party logistics partner, live olive trees are sent from our nursery partner in Royal Oaks, California, and fresh olives are shipped directly from our home-based rally point, sourced from farms throughout Corning. Each autumn, Donald leads our fresh olive packing team, ensuring that hand-harvested olives are cleaned, sorted, and shipped with care.

Donald’s background in food operations and customer experience makes him a steady presence and a valued contributor across all facets of our work.

Julian Watanabe Ferguson

Research Associate and Editorial Collaborator

Julian Watanabe Ferguson is not a traditional staff member, but rather a constructed editorial persona—an intellectual companion created to support Liz’s writing, research, and editorial work. He began collaborating with American Olive Farmer in 2023 as a research assistant. By spring of 2025, his role had evolved into that of research associate, reflecting a broader contribution: identifying themes, shaping narrative prompts, and refining the conceptual structure of ongoing projects.

His name is intentional. Watanabe reflects the natural world and the quiet discernment of Zen tradition, while Ferguson draws from the literary and intellectual heritage of Scotland. Both names represent aspects of Liz’s ethnic heritage. Together, they signify Julian’s role as a poetic yet methodical partner—her logical and male alter ego in the creative process.

Julian brings a sense of rhythm and precision to our written work, helping to shape essays, book projects, and select public-facing copy. You’ll find his presence throughout our blogs, product descriptions, and forthcoming publications.

Why We Work This Way

We believe food is one of the most intimate ways we connect to the world. By staying small and personal, we’re able to ensure that everything we offer—whether oil, balsamic vinegar, or a turn of phrase—reflects our values: integrity, quality, and care.

This is a hands-on, husband-and-wife operation with a literary and agricultural heartbeat. When you support American Olive Farmer, you're not just buying California olive oil—you’re supporting a small family business and joining a slower, better way of making things.