Results of Annual Olive Oil Competition Announced

February 25, 2010, Berkeley Calif.— Basking in the glow of Governor Schwarzenegger’s recent proclamation of February as California Olive Oil Month, the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) held its annual meeting and trade show on February 20th in Sonoma with over nearly 200 growers, producers, and service providers in attendance. Adding to the festive nature of the meeting, the Annual Olive Oil Competition resulted in 28 gold and 26 silver medal winners. The competition drew 58 member-producers submitting 77 oils. Using the Mario Solinas Assessment, 12 trained COOC judges from the organization’s certification tasting panel, awarded Best in Show to Carmel Valley olive oil producer Tres Osos for its Taggiasca Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Best in Show in the Flavored Oil category went to Lucero Olive Oil, Meyer Lemon.

The Mario Solinas Assessment, a specifically designed method for judging olive oils, is used around the world by trained panels to establish uniformity in scoring. Each entry is scored in several areas, totaling a possible 100 points. A silver winner must score at least 76, a gold 86. All golds are then tasted in a second round with the highest score named Best in Show.

“The impressive number of gold and silver winners demonstrates the high quality of California extra virgin olive oil,” said COOC President Gino Favagrossa. He added that the winners also reflect the range of producers we now have in California, from boutique to artisan to commercial growers and millers.

The meeting included business, research, and legislative updates, sensory sessions, and grower workshops. Simultaneously, the trade show showcased 24 trade service providers and sponsors, from those selling bulk olive oil to glass manufacturers to equipment suppliers. The group hardly needed reminding of the challenges of the recent harvest, and instead roundly applauded President Favagrossa’s discussion on the rapid growth of industry with the 2009 harvest yielding over 800,000 gallons, an estimated 25% increase over the 2008 harvest.

With the California olive oil sector rapidly taking its place on the world stage, the joint announcement of collaborations between the COOC and UC Davis Olive Center brought enthusiastic cheers. Later in the day, Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RD, reported on the latest research relating to extra virgin olive oil and the implications for labeling and marketing. Members of the COOC prestigious taste panel led comparative tastings, and, much to the delight of the attendees, the day’s business came to an end with an ice cream and extra virgin olive oil bar.

A reception and awards dinner capped the meetings with Alan Greene receiving the Pioneer Award. With a multifaceted background in California agriculture, Greene spearheaded the introduction of Super High Density planting in California. During his tenure as COOC president, Greene successfully campaigned for the legislation aligning California olive oil standards with the international requirements.

COOC Executive Director Patricia Darragh noted, that like California wine industry, olive growers throughout the state, working with researchers from UC Davis and Fresno State, are discovering which olives grow best where. “With over 200 varieties now grown in California, we are seeing new blending combinations that reflect what works best in our climates and geography and with various cooking styles,” she said. “Our recognized high quality and certified extra virgin olive oils offer a great range in variety and cost from which to choose, a welcome addition to home pantries and restaurant kitchens around the country.”

For a full list of COOC’s Second Annual Olive Oil Competition and more information about the COOC, visit www.cooc.com.

This article was last updated July 17, 2011 - 8:44 AM (GMT-4)