After an extensive judging of quality California-produced olive oils, The Big Fresno Fair has announced the winners of the Fifth Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJCOOV). This competition, open to all olive oil producers in California with products made from their 2018 olive harvest, received a total of 38 entries from 10 olive oil producers from throughout the State.

Entries were received in two divisions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and Flavored Olive Oil, with 10 classes in total. Gold and Silver Medals were awarded, as well as an overall “Best of Show” selected from all of the highest scoring gold medal entries in both classes. New this year, the “Best of the Valley Award” was added to the competition. In total there were 27 EVOO and nine Flavored Olive Oil entries that were entered for judging. The competition had one new producer who had previously never entered and ended up winning the “Best of Show” EVOO.

Winners in the top two categories were:

Best of Show – Mountain Springs Olive Ranch Arbequina (Paso Robles); Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno (Lodi).

Best of the Valley – Boparai Farms Frantoio 8/9 (Lemoore); Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno (Lodi).

Gold Medalists included: Extra Virgin Olive Oils Spanish Blends: Corto Olive Co. Truly (Stockton); Spanish Singles: Olivaia Olivaia’s Ola Estate Sevillano (Lindsay), Mountain Springs Olive Ranch Arbequina (Paso Robles), The Olive Press Sevillano (Sonoma), The Olive Press Arbosana (Sonoma), Corto Olive Co. Arbosana (Stockton).

Also, Italian Blends: Boparai Farms Frantoio 8/9 (Lemoore); Other Blends: Organic Roots Olive Oil Organic Koroneiki (Maxwell), Rosenthal Olive Ranch Koroneiki (Madera), Corto Olive Co. Koroneiki (Stockton).

“Despite an olive shortage for the 2018 harvest, we could not be more pleased with the showing of these amazing olive oil producers and excited to add a new one to the mix,” said Stacy Rianda, Deputy Manager II at The Big Fresno Fair. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to showcase these incredible California-produced olive oils through this competition.”

Gold Medal and Best of Show winners will have the opportunity to have a booth in the Wells Fargo Agriculture Building on one day during a weekend at the 2019 Big Fresno Fair or have a booth at the Fair’s Second Annual Fall Wine Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12. At either location, they will have the opportunity to display and sell their award-winning product. Additionally, educational information will be set up so that Fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits, recipes and more.

For the new Best of the Valley award, the honor was presented to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals were awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties were eligible.

Details and the 2020 SJVOOC entry application will be posted in February 2020.