November 13, 2014

After founding and leading Hancock Agricultural Investment Group for 20 years, Jeff Conrad retired from the company in 2011. Re-entering the sector in 2013, Mr. Conrad launched Boston-based private equity firm AgIS with former colleagues with the focus of investing in farmland and agricultural operations.  AgIS has announced it has completed a strategic investment in California Olive Ranch (COR), the leading olive grower and producer of extra virgin olive oil in North America. Currently, 98% of the olive oil purchased in the U.S. is imported according to AgIS chief investment officer, Ken Warlick, giving rise to the possibility of capturing a significant share of the country’s domestic extra virgin olive oil market. Founded in 1997, COR employs a high-density method of growing olives on more than 4,000 owned acres in the Central Valley of California, and an additional 8,000 acres from California family farms. It is the leading producer and marketer of California olive oil which has been recognized with over 50 awards. The investment from AgIS Capital will be used to fund COR’s expansion of its groves and its potentially global growth initiatives.

AgIS sentence: AgIS Capital is a Boston-based private equity firm that invests in farmland and agricultural operating companies. For further information, please visit the firm’s web site at www.agiscapital.com.

California Olive Ranch is a privately owned company inspired by new growing and harvesting methods which enable the production of high quality moderately priced extra virgin olive oil. For further information, see www.californiaoliveranch.com.

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