When Gov. Brown signed Senate Bill 250 in 2013 into law, he enacted California’s Olive Oil Commission and with it all of the accompanying bureaucratic components, such as membership, board of directors, and creation of quality standards. California produces 99% of the olives grown in the United States. According to the California Olive Oil Council, there are over 400 growers on approximately 30,000 acres dedicated to the production of olive oil. With over 50 varieties of olives grown in California, it is estimated that the 2013 harvest will produce over 2.4 million gallons of oil.
According Senator Wolk, California’s olive oil industry has experienced enormous growth over the past five years. The industry believes it is time to support a coordinated effort to provide for olive oil research and standards to promote the sustainability and success of this important agricultural product.
The Commission will address fraudulent practices in the marketplace. California produces some of the highest quality extra-virgin olive oil. However, the California olive oil industry faces fierce global competition from producers who do not adhere to the same high quality standards as California producers. In fact, the UC Davis Olive Center released a surprising study based on laboratory and sensory testing that found that 69% of imported extra-virgin olive oils bought off the shelves of California supermarkets failed to meet international standards. The study concluded that many of them were falsely labeled as extra-virgin grade.
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