Olive Oil Commission of California Makes Voluntary Participation More Accessible

Sacramento, CA — The Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC) was established in 2014 with a goal of verifying the quality of California olive oil through a mandatory government sampling program.  Participation in this California Food and Agriculture (CDFA) program is mandatory for any producer of 5,000 gallons of olive oil or more per year.  Soon after the OOCC was launched it became evident that producers with less than 5,000 gallons may also want to participate in this important program, which is designed to assure consumer confidence in olive oil from California.

As the OOCC begins its fourth harvest season, a new, more accessible provision has been developed for handlers with fewer than 5,000 gallons of olive oil to voluntarily participate in this important and valuable government sampling program.

“Last year the OOCC Board made it possible for producers with fewer than 5,000 gallons per year to become part of the mandatory government sampling programs by creating a system for voluntary participation,” said Jeff Colombini, Chairman of the OOCC Board.  “This year, we are making it easier and less expensive for smaller producers to participate.”

The changes still require voluntary members to have government officials from the California Department of Food and Agriculture collect samples of their oils at time of production.  Like all samples from OOCC members, these government-collected samples will be tested by independent laboratories to verify they meet eight quality parameters that make up the CDFA standard for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Like other OOCC producers, voluntary members will also need to collect their own samples and have them tested at an accredited lab of their choosing. However, smaller producers are not required to conduct or pay for all eight quality parameters on the samples they collect and test themselves. They are only required to test for PV, UV, FFA and the Organoleptic tests.

In addition, the fee for participating in the voluntary program has been adjustment to a flat rate of 14 cents per gallon of production.

“It’s important for all California olive oil producers, no matter what size, to be unified in their efforts to adhere to the same standards,” said Albert Katz, Chairman of the OOCC’s Advisory Committee, which is designed to represent the interests of producers whose output is fewer than 5,000 gallons.  “These standards assuring consumers they are getting authentic extra virgin olive oil made in California is critical to the future of this young industry.”

“The OOCC’s goal is for all California olive oil to be verified through a system of government sampling and testing,” said Colombini.  “But we understand the cost of testing can be overly burdensome to smaller producers.  Therefore, we have adjusted the voluntary participation program making it more accessible to smaller producers.”

Producers interested in participating in the voluntary program must complete a voluntary participation form and notify the OOCC office by January 5, 2018. To sign up for the OOCC Voluntary Participation Program, please complete the form that can be found on the For Our Members section of the organization’s website at www.oliveoilcommission.org.

About the OOCC:  The Olive Oil Commission of California is a government entity of the State of California and operates with general oversight from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The OOCC was established and is funded by California olive oil farmers to: conduct research that assists farmers in growing a healthy, sustainable crop; develop and enforce standards for purity and quality of California olive oil; verify California olive oil quality through mandatory government sampling and third-party analysis; and promote clear, accurate labels for California olive oil.

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