Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing black ripe olives is provided which comprises immersing the olives in an alkaline solution until the solution penetrates to the pit of the olive to eliminate the bitter principal, and then neutralizing the lye solution by immersing the olives in a carbonic acid solution which is initially supersaturated with carbon dioxide in the absence of air agitation and heat, and thereafter providing a desirable color in the olives by immersion in a ferrous gluconate solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing black ripe olives is provided which comprises periodically introducing an alkaline solution, having a concentration of about 0.45% to 0.7% alkaline for fresh cure olives and 0.9% to 1.2% for storage olives, into a processing tank containing olives to be processed. The olives are agitated in the solution and thereafter the solution is drained from the tank leaving the olives dry in the tank for a period of time before reintroducing the alkaline solution. After repeating the wet-dry cycle a number of times, the blackened ripe olives are rinsed with fresh water. The alkaline solution contains lye (sodium hydroxide) and is retained in a separate storage tank at the completion of each period of wetting the olives. The alkaline solution is periodically strengthened to a desired concentration. The agitation results from bubbling high pressure air into the processing tank below the olives.