THE BLOOMS OF A FRUIT TREE... can be so delicate, and so pinky, or so creamy, that one almost has to pull the car over, or throw down the kickstand, in order to fully admire the fleeting sight. It doesn't last forever, of course, and those wee, soft-to-the-touch buds can be gone with a strong wind or heavy rainstorm, depending upon the tree. It's one of the season's best, and briefest, shows, but the headlines don't solely belong to cherry or orange trees, two specimens that put on an especially fragrant, fantastic show. A smaller fruit, one that doesn't often appear in the kitchen counter fruit bowl -- if ever -- also has its annual bloom, and strolling an orchard to appreciate its beauty is an April tradition, if you're up around Corning. The location should say all, which is this: It is olives we speak about, a fruit that is currently experiencing its yearly buds-up-in-the-branches show. Want to see some of that splendor before time marches on? The Lucero Olive Oil, which has a tasting room in Corning, is leading a couple of tours deep among its trees, in order for olive aficionados to better understand "the olive bloom, agricultural practices, and growing and harvesting quality olives while keeping orchards sustainable..." The two 2016 tours are on...
APRIL 16 AND 23... and tickets are twenty five bucks a pop for the first date, and $45 for April 23 (which includes a box lunch, which may be enjoyed next to the property's pond). That includes "snacks and food pairings" as well as a tasting -- it is gratis -- back at the store. Also part of the deal? A voucher, worth a fiver, to spend on one of Lucero's famous flavored oils -- mmm, lemon -- or another olive-yummy product. If you've ever toodled through Corning, up or down the 5, and detected its awesome olive-forward character, a stroll through some spring blooms, plus a tasting, could put you closer to what that's all about. And if the olive is your go-to fruit -- even if it never makes the kitchen fruit bowl -- getting some back story is essential.
