SACRAMENTO — The Senate has named Senator Lois Wolk (D‑Davis) to chair a newly constituted subcommittee tasked with identifying burgeoning agricultural products and investigating competitive practices and methods to foster product growth and consumer awareness.
The newly established Senate Subcommittee on Olive Oil Production and Emerging Products will be under the Senate Agriculture Committee with an initial focus on California’s olive oil industry.
“I am looking forward to working with the olive oil industry, hearing their challenges and forging solutions to insure a sustainable industry that can compete in the global marketplace,” said Senator Wolk. “California’s Mediterranean climate is particularly well suited to growing olives. Olive oil production is a green industry which provides a heart healthy product. It deserves our attention and support.”
Dan Flynn, Executive Director of the UC Davis Olive Center said, “California is producing high quality olive oil. We are encouraged that Senator Wolk is focusing on the issues of concern to this rapidly growing industry.”
“The California Olive Oil Council is pleased that the California Senate recognizes the importance and growth of the olive oil industry in California with the formation of a new Senate Subcommittee on Olive Oil and emerging Products to be headed by Senator Lois Wolk,” said Bruce Golino, Board Member and past President of the COOC.
Brady Whitlow, President, Corto Olive commented, “California olive oil is considered to be among the best in the world, however, our industry is under assault as European olive oil producers look to flood the United States with cheap, frequently mislabeled oils to sell to unsuspecting consumers. It is our hope that Senator Wolk will call attention to this ongoing problem, raise consumer awareness and enable our industry to increase demand among American consumers while enabling our
industry to mature, expand and hire more people.”
Gregg Kelley, President and CEO, California Olive Ranch observed, “This new committee is very timely. The California olive oil industry has a bright future as long as we can compete on a level playing field with European producers. I am encouraged that the legislature is placing a focus on our issues.”
Joe Muller, owner of Copper Hill Olive Oil said, “My message to this subcommittee is to require truth in advertising. The consumer needs to know what they are buying.”
The Senate Subcommittee on Olive Oil Production and Emerging Products membership includes Senator Noreen Evans (D‑Santa Rosa) and Doug La Malfa (R‑Richvale).
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