The Top 10 Everything of 2011

In 54 wide-ranging lists, TIME surveys the highs and lows, the good and the bad, of the past 12 months

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1. All-American Imports

Olive oil dripping from olive on branch

Corbis

Olive oil comes from Greece, right? Or Italy. Well, no: some of the best olive oil on the market these days is made in California. It's one of many ingredients that used to be imported but is now domestically produced, from Carolina sea salt to "Surryano" ham from Virginia. Our wine has been world class for a long time now. Why shouldn't we make our own olive oil?