BIG FRESNO FAIR ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF FIRST-EVER SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OLIVE OIL COMPETITION

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, May 29, 2015…After a full day of extensive judging taking place in Berkeley, California at the California Olive Oil Council, The Big Fresno Fair is excited to reveal the winners of the Inaugural San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJVOOC). Open to all olive oil producers in the State of California with product made from the most recent olive harvest, the SJVOOC received a total of 52 entries from 15 different olive oil companies from throughout the State.

Entries were received in two classes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil, with 13 subcategories in total. Gold and Silver Medals were awarded with an overall “Best of Show” selected from all entries received in the EVOO and Flavored Oil categories. In total there were 33 EVOO and 19 Flavored Olive Oil entries that were judged by a panel comprised of seven olive oil judges provided by the California Olive Oil Council. The winners of the Inaugural San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition are:

Best of Show
o Bozzano Olive Ranch’s A2 Italian Blend (Stockton)
o Calolea Olive Oil’s Meyer Lemon (Marysville)

Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Gold Medal Winners
o Italian Blends: Bozzano Olive Ranch’s A2 Italian Blend (Stockton)
o Spanish Singles: The Olive Press’ Picual (Sonoma)
o Tuscan Blends: Winter Creek Olive Oil’s Ruscello D’Inverno (Winter Creek)
Silver Medal Winners
o Italian Singles:
§ Bozzano Olive Ranch’s Bosana Organic (Stockton)
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Lodi Olive Oil Ascolano (Lodi)
o Spanish Blends: Fandango Olive Oil’s Fiesta (Paso Robles)
o Spanish Singles:
§ Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Medium (Clovis),
§ The Olive Press’ Arbequina (Sonoma)
o Tuscan Blends:
§ The Olive Press’ Artisan Blend (Sonoma)
§ San Miguel Olive Farm’s Tuscaneiki (San Miguel)
§ Winter Creek Olive Oil’s Winter Creek (Winter Creek)
o Other Singles: Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Bold Koroneiki (Clovis)

Flavored Olive Oils
Gold Medal Winners
o Citrus:
§ Calolea Olive Oil’s Meyer Lemon (Marysville)
§ The Olive Press’ Limonata (Sonoma)

o Herbal:
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Oregano (Lodi)
o Other Flavors:
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Jalapeno Garlic (Lodi)
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Serrano (Lodi),
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Hot Jalapeno (Lodi)
§ Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Garlic (Clovis)
§ The Olive Press’ Jalapeno (Sonoma)
Silver Medal Winners
o Citrus:
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Buddha’s Hand (Lodi)
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Lemon (Lodi)
§ Corning Olive Oil’s Mandarin (Corning)
§ The Olive Press’ Lime (Sonoma)
o Herbal: Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Rosemary (Lodi)
o Other Flavors:
§ Calolea Olive Oil’s Habenero (Marysville)
§ Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Garlic (Lodi)

“We were extremely pleased with the number of entries received for the Inaugural San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition – it is a wonderful representation of the quality and variety of top-notch olive oil producers in the San Joaquin Valley and throughout the State,” said Stacy Rianda, Deputy Manager II at The Big Fresno Fair. “It truly reaffirms the need for establishing a competition like this here in the Valley and we know it will continue to grow!”

Producers were able to submit multiple entries under one category but could not submit a particular entry to more than one category. For each entry, producers had to submit two, 250 ml bottles of their olive oil with retail labels and a $60 non-refundable fee, per entry. Additionally, each entry had to be available for commercial sale at the time of submittal. Submissions were accepted starting mid-February through May 8. The olive oils were judged by a panel at the California Olive Oil Council in Berkeley and were evaluated and scored on the following criteria:
Gold Medal: Awarded to an olive oil that demonstrated its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 86 – 100 points.
Silver Medal: Awarded to an olive oil reflecting the correct distribution of balance and character of its type or variety; an oil deemed to be well crafted and of excellent quality. Silver Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76- 85 points.
Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall.

Winners of the Gold and Silver Medals, as well as the recipient of the “Best of Show” award have the opportunity to have a booth in the Wells Fargo Agricultural Building on both Saturdays and Sundays during the 2015 Big Fresno Fair, October 7 – 18. At their booth, they will be able to display and sell their award-winning product(s). Additionally, educational booths will be set up so that Fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits, recipes and more.

For more information about the new San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJVOOC), please visit www.fresnofair.com/sjv-olive-oil-competition. Planning is already underway for the 2016 SJVOOC, which will be held in early March. Please check back in the Fall for more information.