Get Adobe Flash player

San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition Entries Being Accepted

Entries are being accepted for the eighth annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition; Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil entries from commercial producers in the State of California are eligible and olive oil must be made from producers’ most recent olive harvest. Deadline for entries is May 12.

“This competition continues to draw in the best olive oil producers from throughout California and grows a little each year. We are honored to shine a light on this craft – especially our local olive oil producers with the ‘Best of the Valley’ category,” said Lauri L. King, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair.

Participating producers must enter their harvest into one of two different classes: Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil. Competition categories in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil class include: Spanish Blends (arbequina, arbosana, etc.); Spanish Singles; Italian Blends (ascolano, etc.); Italian Singles; Other Blends (picholine, barouni, etc.); Other Singles. Competition categories in the Flavored Olive Oil class include: Citrus; Herbal (rosemary; basil, etc.); Pepper (chile, jalapeno, habanero, etc.); and Other Flavors (garlic, truffle etc.).

Awards will be given out for Gold and Silver medals in each category, as well as one overall “Best of Show” in both the Extra Virgin Olive Oil category, Flavored Oil category and the “Best of the Valley” award. Judging will be evaluated and scored as follows:

  • Gold Medal: Awarded to an olive oil that demonstrates its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals will be awarded to those oils receiving scores between 86 – 100 points.
  • Silver Medal: Awarded to an olive oil reflecting the correct distribution of balance and character of its type or variety; an oil deemed to be well crafted and of excellent quality. Silver Medals will be awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76- 85.99 points.
  • Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall. All Gold Medal winners are eligible to compete for Best of Show in their division.
  • Best of the Valley: Awarded to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals will be awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. (Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties eligible)

Producers may submit multiple entries under one category but may not submit a particular entry to more than one category. All entries must be available for commercial sale at the time of entry. Entries are due by May 12. Judging will be held on May 24 and winners will be announced on June 6 by 5 p.m.

Gold Medal, Best of the Valley and Best of Show winners will all have the opportunity to have a booth in the Agricultural Building on one day during the 2023 Big Fresno Fair where they can taste, display and sell their award-winning product. Additionally, educational information will be set up so that Fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits and more.

Each submission must include an entry form, at least two 250 ml bottles of the olive oil with retail labels attached and a $60 non-refundable fee per entry. Each entry must also contain a third-party chemical analysis in order to verify extra virgin status. Entries can be dropped off at The Big Fresno Fair Administration Office or can be shipped to SJVOOC – The Big Fresno Fair, 1121 S. Chance Ave. Fresno, CA 93702 no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 12. Any entry delivered by mail, freight or express must be prepaid. The Administration Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for drop offs.

Last year, 69 entries from all throughout California were received. Below is a list of the Gold Medal and Best of Show winners. For a complete 2022 winners list, go to: www.FresnoFair.com/SJVOOC.

For news of interest in the oils and vinegars industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Breckenridge Distillery Announces National Après Day

Breckenridge Distillery, the world’s highest craft distillery and one of the most awarded bourbon brands, announces the launch of National Après Day, a new holiday in the United States, celebrated on March 31 to honor the joy of après ski culture.

Inspired by international après ski culture and celebrated among ski enthusiasts as enjoying time with friends after a day on the slopes, Breckenridge Distillery opens the conversation to share après moments with its new #AprèsAnywhere campaign on National Après Day. The inaugural holiday and campaign invites people around the world to raise a glass to anything they accomplish – whether skiing or not, and with any spirit of their choice, starting with inspiration from the distillery’s portfolio of award-winning products made with Rocky Mountain water from its hometown, and highlighting its beloved Breckenridge Bourbon.

“Bourbon brings people together, and that’s why we love what we do at Breckenridge Distillery,” said Jessie Unruh, director of marketing at Breckenridge Distillery. “This campaign is the epitome of what we’re all about. We love celebrating the rad things our fans do, from the backcountry to the big city, and we hope this spreads the après ski spirit across the country for more memorable moments with Breckenridge bourbon.”

As part of the campaign launch, consumers can enter to win the ultimate #AprèsAnywhere swag bag from Breckenridge Distillery by sharing how and where they après, by posting a photo to Instagram using the #AprèsAnywhere hashtag in the caption. Breckenridge Distillery will pick one lucky winner each month, between March 31, 2023 and August 31, 2023. Winners will be contacted via Instagram direct message from @breckdistillery.

For more information about National Après Day and how you can participate, visit the Breckenridge website at www.breckenridgedistillery.com/apresanywhere.

Founded in Colorado in 2008, Breckenridge Distillery is the “World’s Highest Distillery,” and best known for its award-winning blended bourbon whiskey, a high-rye mash American-style whiskey.

One of the most highly awarded distilleries in the United States, the Breckenridge Distillery is proudly a 3x Icons of Whisky and 9xwinner of Best American Blended winner at the World Whiskies Awards by Whisky Magazine (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 3x in 2023) and a 4x winner of Colorado Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition. Most recently, their Breckenridge Gin was named 2021 World’s Best Compound Gin at the World Gin Awards by Gin Magazine.

The Breckenridge Distillery is more than award-winning spirits, offering an immersive guest experience. Named as one of the country’s Top Visitor Attractions by Whisky Magazine, guests can dine at their award-winning restaurant, enjoy show-stopping cocktails, learn about their highly awarded spirits with an in-depth tasting and get an inside look at their active production facility. New to the distillery, guests have the opportunity to blend their own whiskey as they learn the inner workings of whiskey production.

Breckenridge Distillery is a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, Inc., a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life. For more information about Breckenridge Distillery, visit www.breckenridgedistillery.com. Follow Breckenridge on Instagram @breckdistillery and become a fan at facebook.com/BreckDistillery.

For more information about Tilray Brands, visit www.tilray.com and follow @tilray on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

For more news of interest to the alcoholic beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Cal-Maine Promotes Walters to COO, Whiteman to VP, Operations

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. has promoted Todd Walters to chief operating officer and Matt Whiteman to vice president, operations.

Walters joined Cal-Maine Foods in 1997. Since 2011, he has served as V\vice president of operations for the company’s operations in South Texas, as well as our subsidiary Wharton County Foods, LLC’s facility in Boling, Texas. He previously served in management positions at other locations of the Company in Mississippi, Kansas, New Mexico, and Ohio.

Walters has served on the Board of The Ohio Poultry Association and The Texas Poultry Federation, where he is an ex-officio member. He is also an active member of the United Egg Producers. Walters is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a major in poultry science.

Whiteman has been employed with Cal-Maine Foods since 2011. He most recently served as general manager of the Waelder, Texas, operations. Prior to this, he served in management positions at various locations including Edwards, Miss.; Bremen, Ky.; Guthrie, Ky.; and Boling, Texas.

Whiteman is active in the Texas poultry industry and is currently the President of the Texas Egg Council, along with serving as a Board Member of the Texas Poultry Federation. Whiteman is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in poultry science.

Sherman Miller, president and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., said, “We are pleased to announce these important new leadership changes. Todd Walters is well qualified to assume this role, having extensive experience with the various aspects of our operations across different locations and market regions. He has done an exceptional job at every stage of his 26-year career with Cal-Maine Foods. He is also a recognized leader outside the company as an active member of industry associations. We will continue to benefit from his valuable insight and experience as we pursue our goal to be an efficient and sustainable producer.

“Matt Whiteman brings over 12 years of dedicated service to the company and has played an important role in managing our Texas operations. His previous experience working at our other locations and knowledge of other markets bring an added perspective to this leadership role. We welcome him to our operations management team, and we look forward to working with Matt as we continue to serve our valued customers in the Texas markets,” Miller said.

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, marketing and sale of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, pasture-raised, free-range and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The company, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss., is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

For more news of interest to the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.