About Us
Our Story
Our story begins with Ismail Sahin, the visionary founder of Zagoda and our beloved father. This journey began with a transformative experience, where he discovered the unparalleled quality of “ultra-premium” olive oil. Inspired by this revelation, he envisioned a new chapter for his retirement— spreading the ultra premium Turkish olive oil experience across the world.
In 2017, he purchased a plot of land in the picturesque Köprübaşı district of Manisa province, Turkiye. With boundless determination, he planted 16,500 olive trees on this 10-hectare estate, laying the foundation for Zagoda's legacy. As the trees flourished and bore fruit, Ismail's dream took root. Zagoda was born—a tribute to the rich tradition of olive cultivation in the Eastern Black Sea Region, where "Green Olives in Brine" are fondly known as Zagoda.
In 2021, we embarked on a new chapter of our journey by bringing Zagoda from our homeland to our current home in Ann Arbor, MI. For us, this expansion wasn't just about establishing a business in a new location; it was akin to bringing a piece of our heritage and culture to the people of the United States. We hoped to not only introduce the people in the US to the exquisite taste of ultra-premium Turkish olive oil but also to foster a sense of connection and understanding between cultures. As immigrants ourselves, we understand the importance of community, and we are committed to enriching the lives of those around us through our shared love for exceptional olive oil.
Our Legacy
Just as immigrants carry their traditions, stories, and values with them to their new homes, we sought to share the essence of Zagoda—our family's passion for quality, tradition, and authenticity—with the community here in Ann Arbor. Our aim is to contribute to the growing global recognition of Turkish olive oil, ensuring it receives the acclaim it rightfully deserves.
Our Process
Our farm is meticulously tended, with each tree nurtured like a cherished member of the family. From soil to bottle, we uphold the highest standards of organic farming and sustainable practices, ensuring that every drop of Zagoda olive oil embodies purity and excellence.
The journey from fruit to oil is a meticulous process guided by expertise and innovation. Our olives are hand-picked early, carefully sorted, and swiftly transported to our state-of-the-art mill on the same day of harvest. Here, cutting-edge technology meets centuries-old tradition as we cold-extract (under 27 °C/80 °F) the precious essence of the olive with precision and care, without any chemical processing, additives, or preservatives.
Olive Oil Rooted in Best Practices
With regards to agricultural practices, our parent facility follows the Turkish government’s “Good Agricultural Practices” regulation, which integrates important natural practices into our operation such as sustainable farming, soil testing and organic composting in order to grow our trees completely naturally.
Sustainability also transcends our manufacturing as well. We are committed to manufacturing our products in accordance with:
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems and
ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems.
We believe in fair and ethical treatment of our workers from the farm fields to the shipment of bottles here within the US and abroad.