Thanks to their new self-imposed regulations, California olive oil producers are already partying like it's 2015.
Samoa might get to celebrate the New Year before the rest of the world, thanks to its position along the International Date Line, but California olive oil producers have the tiny island nation beat — along with their European competitors.
California producers have just entitled themselves to call the olives they are harvesting right now part of their “2015 harvest,” ringing in the new year on their bottle labels before everyone else.
California’s own Grade and Labeling Standards for Olive Oil, recently implemented by the California Department of Food and Agriculture gives them the green light: “Because the harvest typically runs from October through January,” the new rules say, “the 2014 – 2015 harvest season is deemed to be the 2015 harvest.”
So if you think you knew everything to look for on an olive oil label, here’s one more thing to remember: If a bottle from California indicates a single-year harvest date of 2015, the olives were most likely harvested in 2014.
In fact, there has been a trend in olive oil production toward earlier harvests, which makes the new simplification even further from the truth.
A scan of one hundred Spanish, Italian and Greek olive oils that displayed harvest dates found not even one that used only the second year of the harvest season. Instead, most referred to the season itself, such as “2013/14,” or by the specific month (or months) and year, like “October-November, 2013.”
The imported oils that did indicate only a single year as the harvest date, in every case, used the first year of the season. In other words, olives harvested in October, 2013 bore the date “2013.” In California, that would be called “2014.”
Of course, a 2014 harvest date on a bottle of Californian EVOO looks a lot better than the 2013 harvest date on that Italian label, even though they are equally fresh. But that’s the point.
Bottles of California Olive Ranch (COR) extra virgin olive oil on store shelves this week indicated only a single harvest year: 2014. But in fact, the oils were not made from olives harvested in 2014 at all, but in October and early November, 2013.
The oil made from olives harvested in 2013 was released in 2014, a COR representative explained. That’s why it bears the 2014 harvest.
Yeah, that’s what we used to call the bottling date.
California’s trimming of the date that used to be seen as the most reliable indicator of an olive oil’s true age will likely cause European producers who have used more accurate harvest date indications to start dumbing-down their labels to appear as fresh as their Golden State rivals.
The largest American olive oil company, California Olive Ranch, says on its website“you should know how fresh your olive oil is, that’s why every bottle of our olive oil displays the harvest date.”
Right. Just remember to subtract a year, and you’ll be good.
More articles on: California olive oil, Editor's Picks, olive oil labeling
Oct. 31, 2023
Global Olive Oil Production Set for Second Straight Year of Decline
The world’s seven largest olive oil-producing countries are expected to yield 1.97 million tons in the 2023/24 crop year, 23 percent below the average of the previous four campaigns.
May. 16, 2024
U.S. Olive Oil Producers Achieve Record-Breaking Success at World Competition
Olive oil producers from five states combined to earn 95 awards, exceeding the previous record of 94 set in 2022.
Nov. 6, 2023
Making Award-Winning Olive Oil from California’s Centenarian Trees
In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Guilio Zavolta and Rachelle Bross seek to promote and protect the state’s historic olive trees.
Nov. 14, 2023
Competition Data Offer Insights Into Olive Oil World
Historically poor harvests did not impact quality and the rising popularity of organic production.
May. 1, 2024
Australian Olive Association Implements Quality Monitoring Program
The program aims to assure Australians that olive oils are correctly labeled and meet the necessary standards at a time of increasing prices.
Nov. 27, 2023
The company says it will produce its first California olive oil in 2027 and anticipates yields of one million liters.
Aug. 10, 2023
California Producers Keep Olives and Workers Safe in Record Heat
With temperatures breaking records in some parts of the state, producers emphasize the need for irrigation and unconventional working hours.
Dec. 14, 2023
Tightening Water Regulations in California May Spur Olive Cultivation
While irrigated olive groves still use plenty of water, increasingly strict prohibitions, especially in the San Joaquin Valley, may carve out a new niche for dryland olive groves.