California State University, Fresno’s campus farm has won another medal – a silver award for the 2006 Fresno State Extra Virgin Olive Oil – from the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) at last month’s San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.
The annual competition featured submissions from California olive oil producers for awards in categories for extra virgin and flavored olive oils.
This is the third medal in less than two years for the Fresno State-produced olive oil.
Orchard manager Gino Favagrossa heads the university’s olive oil team. The olive for oil project is conducted on a 22-acre block of super high-density plantings on the campus farm. Under the academic auspices of Fresno State’s Plant Science Department and Favagrossa’s direction, the olives were mechanically harvested, then processed and bottled by the California Olive Ranch in Oroville, a partner in the venture.
The San Diego festival is an international showcase of the world’s premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities and gourmet foods. The event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program.
The COOC, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit trade and marketing association that promotes olive growing and olive oil production in the state, advocates for certified olive oil standards and provides grower, producer and consumer education.
(Copy by University Communications student-intern Megan Jacobsen)
Related link(s): San Diego Wine & Food Festival, Award-winning Fresno State olive oil
