During my weekly visit to the local Superstore at Richmond and Kirkwood, I was greeted by a large commotion in the produce aisle. At the center of the crowd of dozens of enthusiastic customers were cases of Fresh Californian Green Olives. Apparently, at a price of $16.99 per case, the olives were a steal.

I watched as palette upon palette of olives came to the floor. The grocery store employees wheeling the palettes from the storeroom were visably apprehensive of re-entering the mob. They looked both frustrated and amazed. Some families wheeled entire shopping carts with nothing more than cases of olives to the cash registers. Many looked triumphant in their being able to procure a share. Management later imposed a limit of 10 cases per purchase.

I heard one employee remark, "The mob swarmed a palette and emptied it in 5 minutes!" Another, recounted how he had to physically restrain an "aggressive" woman who wanted at his newly delivered palette.

Here's a video of how one palette faired. Pay close attention to the employee who delivered the palette. Even before he could secure the palette, the crowd surged towards him. For their safety, he had to tell them to step back. Then, he hastily retreated to safety.

At the end of the video, a lady asked me if I were sending a video of the "war of the olive" back home. Indeed, I did :)

Here are before and after pics of that same palette.

Before

After

I witnessed the crowd consume two of these palettes before I went off to find good buys of my own.

This much enthusiasm must mean that good eats were to be had. Perhaps the olives are destined for home pickling?



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