Fresh Relocated

For Cissy Ramey, olive oil is more than an addition to a plate; it is a way of life. The products within the Fig and Basil Olive Oil Company represent health, longevity, and are a symbol of overcoming adversity.

Ever since she acquired the shop in 2016 inside Tin City, Ramey faced one mountain after another. Irma being the first. “We just pushed through and got over it,” said Ramey. Then Covid hit. She got creative with business and would have customers call in their order before personally delivering to their doorstep.

“After Covid, our next big setback was Ian,” Ramey said. They got hit, as did most of the downtown Naples area. “We had six feet of water. Three of it was mud. When you're closed for four months, it hurts. You never really get over it; you just adjust and deal with it.”

“Then we had Helene and Milton back-to-back!” This was when Ramey decided she had played in the water long enough and began looking for a landlocked location for her specialty shop.

“My regular clients are all East Naples and Marco Island. It made sense to gravitate towards them.” She relocated in November to the Horseshoe Plaza. Now with a larger space, plenty of parking, and new neighboring businesses, Ramey is excited for the future.

As she began to speak on the oils and balsamics on her shelves, the combined passion for them and the mission to share them was nearly tangible. Ramey has a personal connection to the many benefits of olive oil and is adamant that her store is not there to be simply retail; she is also there to educate.

After a long period of research for something that was a high anti-inflammatory, she used the product for eight years before she began to sell them. She shared that the arthritis gene kicks in at age 50 in her family, and she wanted to get ahead of it. Now at the age of 60, she does not have the problems that her sisters and mother had at the same age, and she attributes it to one tablespoon a day. “I never stop talking about it, so one day my husband said, ‘You have to sell this stuff,’” Ramey said. She retired from a career in real estate and took over the shop, then at Tin City.

The oil within the shop comes from one of the best suppliers available: Veronica Foods. Their Italian name is ‘Delizia,’ and the company began in 1916 before going public in 1924. Veronica is the great-great-great-granddaughter of the founder. Thirty-two years ago, the company realized that their heritage was being lost to ‘fake’ olive oil, and they ventured to the US to put a stop to it. Becoming a supplier, they are committed to curating the healthiest olive oils, the finest vinegars, and pantry items to specialty stores.

With the name proudly displayed on the back of every bottle, a customer can trust and know the quality of the product within.

Ramey keeps the inventory moving, ensuring only the freshest products from both the northern and southern hemispheres (including Italy, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, Peru, Chile, Australia, and California) are not blended. They're true to their region.

Among the numerous health benefits of this quality certified kosher olive oil are its high polyphenols, an excellent anti-inflammatory, good cholesterol, omegas, and they are super low in free fatty acid.

A logbook, of sorts, is kept on hand for when a customer comes in with certain dietary needs. Ramey can show them the chemistry of the oil and lead them to the right bottle for their specific health needs. She is full of recommendations, and one only needs to strike up a conversation on what they are looking for, “If they're cooking, I’ll go, ‘Oh, here's a great one for that.’ If they're wanting it for just a salad, I’ll take them to this one. If they want to take it every day for the health benefits, then this is the one for you!”

Fused and infused oils are available. Fused means the fruit, berry, or herb was crushed with the olive. If it's infused, it was added after the crush. But it is the real fruit, berry, and herb every time - nothing artificial.

The balsamics are always from Modena, Italy, and are aged 18 to 25 years. Boasting nothing artificial - only real fruits, berries, and herbs in every bottle - they have the traditional plus 45 different varieties of fused and infused flavors!

The balsamics have their own set of health benefits and are excellent for balancing stomach acid. They are good for blood pressure and balancing blood glucose.

They also sell local raw honey and a variety of spices, herbs, and rubs, which are from an Amish community in Goshen, Indiana. They will soon be carrying all-natural organic loose-leaf tea and wine exclusively from Puglia, Italy. “Everything we carry is clean and healthy, except for the candy that we carry for Christmas!” Ramey joked, adding that they create gift baskets and bundles for the holidays and parties.

To get the full experience, one must stop in and see it for themselves. There is a welcoming tasting bar open to the public for sampling. “We like to tell people to come in and taste it for yourself and not just take our word for it,” Ramey gestured to the tasting bar, “And once they taste it they go, ‘Oh, my gosh! This is the best ever!’ You can taste the difference.”

The store does have a loyalty program, and returning customers can purchase more oil that will come in a refillable bag to pour into their bottle at home. This bag can also double as an ice pack, perfect for the Hurricane season.

They are available for private tastings and education classes, both in-house or at a place of business. Say if a condo clubhouse is interested in hosting, one only needs to call to arrange a delicious and informative session that includes samplings, knowledge, and a Q and A.

Ramey feels at home in East Naples and is ready to serve returning and new customers. Go for a visit and taste the difference for yourself.

The Fig and Basil Olive Oil Company is located at 11530 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, 34113, in The Horseshoe Plaza. They are open M-Sat 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, closed Sundays. 239-227-6749.