Kalamatra is the town in Greece where that variety of olive originated.
Calamatas is the *******ized english spelling which seems to acceptable
these days.
With Olives curing or processing is more important that the variety.
Someone (mostly Greeks ) who knows what there doing can take Missions or
Manzinallos ( The two varities that use to make up most of the "table"
olives grown in this country) and make great tasting olives.
We use to send a semi load of fresh olives to Chicago every November. The
buyers were Greeks who like to cure their own olives. Olives cannot be
eaten right from the tree. Here a good site if you can get fresh olives
try the Oil Cured Greek Style.
http://www.oliveoilsource.com/olive_recipes_.htm . Curing green olives uses
lye, just like hominy or that fish the Swedes eat.
I read now that the olive business is now being yuppieized in California so
there is a lot going on that I never suspected long ago when in the FFA. If
your driving through Calfornia and some kid at fruit stand says you can eat
all the olives you want from a handy tree don't take em up on it. I never
did that but heard that some people do.


BJ Conner
01B20, 36K20, 01B20, 66-68 and professional olive picker 56-63

"Wayne Harrison" wrote in message
r.com...

"Wolfgang" wrote

Calamatas are a type of olive. You'd like 'em.......they taste like
deep
fried wild turkey.

um, knowing your love of accuracy in all things, the proper spelling
is
"kalamata".

yfitons
wayno (i didn't spend 25 years with a greek girl for nothin!)