People We Meet Emanuele Bariani ends namesake olive oil stall

Emanuele Bariani will retire and close his stand at the Alemany Farmers Market by the end of August, ending a 28-year tenure representing Bariani Olive Oil in San Francisco. The family business, known for its cold-extracted, estate-grown extra virgin olive oil, operates on 262 acres in Zamora, California. Emanuele, along with his brothers, has been instrumental in educating customers about the unique flavors and health benefits of their products. Their olive oil gained national attention after Martha Stewart featured it in 1997, leading to a surge in orders. Even after Emanuele's departure, customers can find Bariani products at local stores like Rainbow Grocery or order online.

The Bariani family has remained hands-on in the production process, controlling every aspect from harvesting to bottling. Emanuele's retirement follows in his father's footsteps, who started the business in a bid to provide for his family after emigrating from Italy. This transition may impact the local food community, as Emanuele has been a familiar face and voice for many customers at the market.