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www.gourmetnews.com 6 Oli e Aceti • Gourmet News Big Fresno Fair Announces Winners of 5th Annual Olive Oil Competition After an extensive judging of quality Cali- fornia-produced olive oils, The Big Fresno Fair revealed the winners of the 5th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJVOOC). This competition, open to all olive oil producers in California with prod- ucts 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 Fla- vored 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 compe- tition had one new producer who had pre- viously never entered and ended up winning the "Best of Show" EVOO. Best of Show winners were Mountain Springs Olive Ranch in Paso Robles for its Arbequina, and Coldani Olive Ranch in Lodi for its Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno. Coldani's oil also won Best of the Valley, along with Boparai Farms out of Lemoore for its Frantoio. Gold medals in the extra virgin oil class went to Corto Olive Co.'s Truly (Stockton) for Spanish blends. Gold for Spanish sin- gles went to Olivaia's Ola Estate Sevillano (Lindsay), Mountain Springs Olive Ranch's Arbequina, The Olive Press's Sevil- lano and Arbosana (Sonoma), and Corto Olive Co's Arbosana. Boparai Farms' Frantoio won gold for Italian blends. Gold winners for other blends were Organic Roots Olive Oil for Organic Koroneiki (Maxwell), Rosenthal Olive Ranch's Koroneiki (Madera) and Corto Olive Co.'s Koroneiki. Silver medals in the extra virgin olive oils class went to Olivaia's Ola Block X Blend, a Spanish blend. Spanish singles sil- ver winners were Organic Roots Olive Oil's Organic Arbosana EVOO, Organic Roots' Organic Arbequina EVOO, Coldani Olive Ranch's CaliVirgin Premium EVOO, The Olive Press's Picual, and Corto Olive Co.'s Arbequina. In Italian blends, silver went to Coldani Olive Ranch's Lodi Olive Oil Miller's Blend and San Miguel Olive Farm's Tuscan Gold Eleganza (San Miguel). For other singles, it was The Olive Press's Her- itage Mission, Mountain Springs Olive Ranch's Koroneiki and Enzo Olive Oil Company's Bold (Clovis). Gold medal winners in the flavored oils category for pepper flavored oils were Coldani Olive Ranch for Calivirgin Jalapeno Garlic and Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno, and Enzo Olive Oil Company's Fresno Chili. Coldani won silver for citrus flavored varieties for its Calivirgin Blood Orange, and Enzo Olive Oil Company won silver in herbal flavored varieties for its Basil Crush. "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 2nd Annual Fall Wine Festival on Satur- day, October 12. At either location, they will have the opportunity to display and sell their award-winning product. Addi- tionally, educational information will be set up so that fair-goers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits, recipes and more. Details and the 2020 SJVOOC entry application will be posted in February 2020. For more information, visit www.fresnofair.com. GN Bellucci Olive Oils: Transparent, Verified Bellucci offers 100 percent Italian extra virgin olive oil from a company dedicated to ensuring the authenticity of its prod- ucts since the brand's inception. The company's innovative traceability system empowers consumers to track the con- tents of any bottle to the region and mill of origin in rural Italy. This traceability method has received ISO 22005 certifica- tion by Bureau Veritas. Bellucci is proud to have achieved this level of verification from an independent party. With rigorous third-party certification, retailers can offer Bellucci to their cus- tomers with even greater confidence. The certification attests to the accuracy of Bel- lucci's system for ensuring product authen- ticity. Bureau Veritas, founded in 1828, is recognized and accredited by major na- tional and international organizations. Its certification program goes beyond simple compliance with regulations and standards to reduce risk. With a clear focus on integrity and ethics, impartial counsel and validation, customer concerns and safety at work, its certifying stamp is a powerful indicator of all the qualities that invite consumer trust. Bellucci's efforts to combat fraud in the industry and empower consumers extend beyond the company's sophisticated traceability system. The award-winning Bellucci Traceability App additionally of- fers tasting instructions and an experi- ence of Italian terroir to impart the skills consumers need both to identify and savor authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil. The brand's signature bottle is also fit- ted with a tamper-resistant easy-pour spout. Bellucci's outstanding award-winning flavor profiles have been recognized once again with its newest addition to the product portfolio; Bel- lucci's Sicilia PGI Organic was awarded the silver medal from the 2018 New York International Olive Oil Competition. Con- sumers are quick to learn that great taste and trust through traceability go hand in hand. Contact Chip Leonard, Retail Sales Director, chip@candor-ags.com. GN