DUNDEE Ore. (KPTV) - When people think of the Willamette Valley, wine is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But one family farm is betting big on a new crop that could reshape the region’s agricultural identity: olives.

Durant Vineyard, tucked away in the Dundee Hills, is in its second generation of family farming. Paul Durant said the family has about 135 acres, with 75 acres planted in grapes and 15 acres in olives.

“You heard that right, olives,” Durant said.

The family began planting olive trees in the early 2000s, turning what was once an experiment into part of the farm’s identity.

“It’s one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world,” Durant said. “It goes back thousands and thousands of years, and it’s a cultural icon.”

Olives may be new to Oregon, but they thrive in

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