Nov 5, 2008

McEvoy Ranch brings more to Ferry Building retail shop

(SAN FRANCISCO) — McEvoy Ranch, the pioneering and leading U.S. producer of certified organic extra virgin olive oil, has unveiled its redesigned Ferry Building shop. One of the first tenants to lease space in San Francisco’s bustling Ferry Building Marketplace five years ago, the retail shop has been reconfigured to bring more of the signature elements of the 550-acre ranch to Ferry Building shoppers. The refreshed McEvoy Ranch shop captures the style and beauty of the picturesque ranch, while providing customers with a greater selection of their McEvoy favorites.

“We had two goals for the redesign,” said Proprietor Nan McEvoy. “We have greatly expanded the McEvoy product line since the shop opened five years ago, and we wanted to find a way to share more of those products with ourFerry Building customers. And since all McEvoy products — from the olive oil to the new 80 Acres body care products — are inspired by and derived from the ranch, we decided the redesign was also a wonderful opportunity to bring more of the ranch ‘experience’ to San Francisco.”

McEvoy Ranch’s loyal fans will now have the opportunity to enjoy even more estate-produced specialty foods such as marmalades and honey, handcrafted soaps, an expanded body care line, olive oil related products and accessories, tabletop and serving pieces, as well as fresh produce and flowers from McEvoy’s certified organic gardens. And, of course, the ranch’s award-winning extra virgin olive oil to sample and enjoy. Additionally, the revamped space, which includes a spacious center island, will allow McEvoy to host in-store demonstrations that will cover everything from tips on enjoying McEvoy Ranch olive oil with seasonal produce to cooking demonstrations, product tastings and flower arranging.

Gensler, the design firm tasked with the redesign, based the new design on the ranch’s expansive country kitchen — the central gathering spot for proprietor Nan McEvoy and the McEvoy Ranch team. Frosted acrylic panels with photos of olive branches from McEvoy’s very own trees border the three interior walls, creating the feeling of looking out into the orchard through the kitchen windows. Warm textures and materials are integrated throughout the store, capturing the welcoming, hospitable style and charm that are the hallmarks of a McEvoy Ranch visit. Contemporary millwork and fixtures are matched with repurposed wood, limed white oak and olive wood. In keeping with the organic and sustainable practices of the ranch, all materials were selected in accordance with sustainable practices.

“In the McEvoy Ranch shop we used sustainable, local materials such as olive wood to create a strong connection to the heart and soul of the company and its Northern California ranch,” said Michael Bodziner, Gensler principal and project director. “Transforming a small space in the iconic Ferry Building was as rewarding as it was challenging, and the new design gives McEvoy a fresh and flexible branded environment for rich and layered storytelling.”

McEvoy Ranch supports more than 18,000 olive trees on 80 acres of a total of 550 acres of land located in the MarinCounty hills of West Petaluma. The McEvoy Ranch frantoio, or olive mill, is the only one of its kind in the United States, using exclusive Rapanelli equipment imported from Italy that aids in achieving the superior quality, well balanced, smooth texture of the oil. McEvoy Ranch’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil — estate grown, estate milled, unfiltered and certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) — is a product of six Italian varietals, and has a richly complex flavor profile with hints of artichoke, a touch of savory bitterness and a mildly peppery finish. All of McEvoy Ranch’s estate-produced items are hand-crafted with the same care McEvoy Ranch takes in the creation of its olive oil.

To find out more about McEvoy Ranch certified organic, extra virgin olive oil and other estate-produced items, visit the McEvoy Ranch Ferry Building shop or go to www.mcevoyranch.com.