Motel 6 Los Angeles - Sylmar

~Sylmar~

by Yaqui

It all started when the missionaries brought with them the seeds of olive trees. Father Iballa, the Padre at the Mission from 1820-1834 knew that the local climate the trees would survive, if not thrive. He planted them all around the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. Even when the mission was abandoned and became in decay, the trees survived and where still being enjoyed. By the time Sylmar was incorporated around 1893, it was known to have the largest orchards of Olive Trees in the world. Sylmar ~ Sea of Tree’s had over twelve hundred acres of Olive trees. Although it took many years for the orchards to mature, it wasn’t till salesmen made their pitch all over the country to get companies on board to buy their product, olive oil. It was successful for many decades as the Sylmar Packing label, till other countries were able to produce the olives cheaper and with local population growing, the trees were being torn down to make room for housing. Now, it has is becoming quite successful again since the interest of home grown products being more popular, the old orchards of olives trees are once again being enjoyed.