Ancient 'Olive Route' may be travelled in 21st century [audio 9min @1:23]

Carol Drinkwater talks about her new book The Olive Route: A Personal Journey to the Heart of the Mediterranean (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), which maps the route by which the olive became the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Carol describes her cultural and historical adventure across the Eastern Mediterranean coast, where she gained access to diverse regions and communities. Starting her journey in Lebanon, looking for the world's oldest olive tree, Carol travelled for over eight months, learning about the origin and cultivation of the olive. She discovered more than the secrets of Mediterranean culture and cuisine -- She also found a web of conflict and cruelty. Carol is the author of the trilogy about life on an olive farm in the south of France, The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love and Olive Oil; The Olive Harvest: A Memoir of Love, Life and Olives in the South of France; and The Olive Season: Amour, a New Life and Olives Too (Orion). Carol also starred as Helen Herriot in the BBC TV series All Creatures Great and Small. She contributes to the full 30-minute programme along with award-winning wine writer Robert Joseph; writer, broadcaster and Master of Wine Sarah Jane Evans; and presenter Shyama Perera, novelist, journalist and columnist.