Having quality products is a key component in maintaining high standards. To continue upholding that bar, the Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC) has issued its list of Members in Good Standing for the 2020/21 California olive oil harvest and milling season.
“Under the OOCC, California producers of 5,000 gallons of olive oil or more per year participate in a mandatory sampling and testing program to verify their olive oil is correctly labeled with respect to quality,” said Chris Zanobini, Executive Director. “In other words, if they label their olive as Extra Virgin, it has undergone independent testing to make sure the olive oil does, in fact, meet the OOCC standards for Extra Virgin.”
The list can be used as a guide to help people buy California olive oil with confidence. According to the press release, the names of members who meet all requirements of the OOCC program are published each year. In addition to companies that produce over 5,000 gallons per year that are required to participate in the program, the list also includes smaller companies who participate on a voluntary basis.
The OOCC Members in Good Standing list for the 2020/21 season are as follows:
In order to be considered a Member in Good Standing, companies must meet the following criteria:
“Members in Good Standing are allowed to use the OOCC logo on their bottle indicating they are in compliance with our program, but they are not required to do so,” explained Zanobini. “In this way, we can ensure that California olive oil is accurately labeled in terms of quality. The goal is to make sure that customers can have confidence in California olive oil.”
The Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC) was established in 2014 as an official entity of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to ensure that California olive oil is trusted and valued. Standards enforced by the OOCC are among the most stringent in the world.
Congratulations to everyone on this year's list!
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