Welcome to Our Family Nursery
We are a family-owned nursery proudly rooted in Belle Chasse, Louisiana – a small community 20 miles south of New Orleans. For five generations, our family has grown olive trees and shared our passion with others. When you shop with us, you’re dealing directly with a family that truly cares about your success in growing a beautiful olive tree.
Five Generations of Family Tradition
Our story began over five generations ago with a love of the land and a vision to grow exceptional plants. This tradition, passed down from great-great-grandparents to each new generation, has deep roots in Louisiana soil. All that knowledge and care go into every olive tree we cultivate today. Being located in Belle Chasse, LA, we’re lucky to have the ideal environment for healthy, vigorous olive trees (especially the beloved Arbequina variety). We take pride in continuing our legacy of farming and nurturing plants, generation after generation.
What started as a small local passion has grown into a full-scale mission to help others experience the joy of growing their own Arbequina olive trees—whether in a backyard, on a balcony, or in an orchard.
Small Business Values & Personal Service
As a family-owned and operated nursery, we believe in the power of small-business values. What does that mean for you? Personal customer service is at the heart of everything we do. When you contact us, you’ll likely speak with a family member who knows our trees inside and out. We handle every aspect of the business ourselves – from sowing and grafting to carefully packing and shipping your order. Each tree is tended, inspected, and lovingly packaged by our family’s own hands. We’re not a faceless corporation; we’re your neighbors. We treat every customer like a friend. Our goal is to make you feel confident and cared for throughout your experience with us, whether you’re buying your first olive tree or you’re a seasoned grower.
Clean, Certified Growing Practices
Quality and plant health are our top priorities. We go above and beyond to ensure every olive tree you receive is healthy, pest-free, and ready to thrive in its new home. In fact, our nursery maintains strict cleanliness and is USDA-APHIS-PPQ certified, meaning we meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s stringent standards for plant health and quarantine. Here are some key practices we follow to keep our trees in peak condition:
- Systemic Drenching: We give each olive tree a systemic drenching treatment (a special root-to-leaf protection) to guard against pests and diseases. This ensures that your tree arrives strong, bug-free, and well-equipped for a healthy start in your garden.
- Clean Budwood Program: Our family participates in a clean budwood program, using only disease-free, certified budwood (cuttings) to propagate new olive trees. By starting with clean, healthy plant material, we make sure your tree is free of viruses or blights right from the beginning.
- Pest & Fungus Prevention: We don’t take any chances when it comes to pests and fungi. From careful monitoring and integrated pest management to preventative treatments, our growing process is designed to prevent infestations or mold issues before they can ever affect the plants. Your olive tree is nurtured in an environment where it’s protected from common problems that big-box store plants might be exposed to.
- Screened Greenhouses: Our olive trees grow in screened greenhouses that keep bugs and airborne pathogens out. These greenhouses are enclosed with fine mesh screens, creating a physical barrier that stops pests from getting near the plants. This extra step helps each tree grow in a safe, controlled environment without the need for harsh chemicals.
- Decontamination Measures: We even have dedicated decontamination rooms and protocols to keep our facilities spotless. Every tool, pot, and pair of boots gets cleaned and sanitized. By rigorously cleaning equipment and enforcing strict hygiene, we maintain a clean growing environment that keeps your trees safe from cross-contamination or lingering germs.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Choosing to buy from ArbequinaOliveTree.com means you’re not just getting a wonderful tree – you’re also supporting a local American family business. Every purchase directly helps a family of small farmers rather than boosting a big-box store’s bottom line. When your order comes through, we do a little happy dance (really!) because it lets us keep doing what we love: growing top-quality olive trees and sharing them with people like you.
By supporting our nursery, you’re sustaining a tradition of American farming and horticulture on a small, heartfelt scale. You can feel good about your purchase, knowing your decision makes a real difference – it keeps our fifth-generation family business thriving and helps preserve the kind of personalized, responsible agriculture that’s hard to find nowadays. We pour our heart into every tree and every customer interaction. Your trust in us fuels our passion to continue this journey for generations to come.