She owned a small olive grove outside Oroville in the Sacramento Valley, and sought ways to increase her market beyond olive oil. At the time, olives could not be successfully preserved for long-term storage or shipment. Working with a University of California food scientist, she experimented with a number of pickling methods before hitting on a formula that resulted in a marketable product.
She founded the Ripe Olive Industry of California.
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Today, Ehmann's home is the headquarters of the Butte County Historical Society, and tours are offered regularly.
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She was active in Women's Clubs affairs and was Chairman of the Financial Committee of the YMCA Building Fund.
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She was a member of the Oroville Monday Club.
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