The invention relates to olive processing, and includes methods for producing olives, as well as the olives produced thereby. In one aspect, the invention provides compositions directed towards packaged olive preparations having novel and beneficial characteristics, for example, olive preparations that are free of packing liquids such as brine solutions. In other aspects, the packaged olive preparations of the invention can have other beneficial properties, such as extended shelf life and flavored stuffings or flavor infusions. In other aspects, the invention provides methods for producing such olives. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to black-ripe olives.
