13/07/2026
Before we announce the next chapter
in the story of ALTO Olives, we would
like to take a moment to wish it’s founder,
Robert Armstrong, aka Papa ALTO,
a very happy (second) retirement.
What started as a curiosity about olives,
after retiring from the rat race of corporate life,
combined with a love of a special patch of land,
eventually became ALTO Olives.
It was a passion project that progressed into a successful & well regarded family business.
It was never a money making exercise, although the day that the books went from red to black, was certainly a good one.
ALTO was a way of being in deep relationship with the land at Hopeful Ranch, of regenerating it back to life after decades of overgrazing, of working with the generosity of ancient & noble olive trees to produce delicious and nutritious food for our fellow humans, and of contributing positively to the world around us.
The first of the olive trees were
planted at Hopeful Ranch in 1997.
And the last 29 years have
been a beautiful, challenging,
and importantly, fulfilling,
part of Robert’s life journey.
And now, almost three decades
after the first trees were planted,
Robert is hanging up his electric
pruning secateurs, and heading
somewhere coastal to reconnect
with the ocean, to read all the books,
and to have a well deserved rest.
On a personal note,
I want to say what a
precious joy it has been
working with my Dad for
the last two decades.
He gave me the gift of
introducing me to olive
trees, and of knowing what
it means to be in loving relationship
with the land, and all the life
contained within it.
And for this,
I am forever
grateful.
Thank you,
Papa.
Wherever we go and
whatever we do
a part of our hearts
will remain ever
Hopeful.
✨💚🫒✨🌳💚✨
