Olives have been cultivated in Greece for thousands of years. They’re mentioned in both the Odyssey and the Iliad and in literary works throughout the ages. Today, Greece remains one of the world’s largest olive producers – the climate, terrain, and expertise of Greek farmers result in some of our very favorite olives. We’ve combined several of them into Trader Joe’s Greek Olive Medley, an ideal companion to a holiday cheese tray or antipasto platter. The olives we feature in our Greek Olive Medley (Kalamata, Blonde Mt. Pelion, Green Halkidiki, & Nafplion) are grown in small Aegean villages where they are hand-picked at the peak of ripeness and cured in a brine of red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, bay leaves and oregano. This brightly flavored brine brings out the best of the olives’ rich, delicious flavors, heightening their vibrant flavors and allowing them to maintain their good texture.