Whom You Know Loves the EVOO From California Olive Ranch
Whom You Know first learned of California Olive Ranch at Star Chefs recently and we are pleased to pass along the word about how fabulous it is! Similar to the explosion of the California wine industry in the 1970s, the California olive oil industry is on the verge of becoming known for producing fresh, high-quality, widely available and affordable EVOO, and exposing the many benefits of locally grown EVOO over imported brands. Since we are especially patriotic at Whom You Know, we love this too.
This launch marks the first time a US brand can mass-produce high quality, fresh, affordable and traceable everyday EVOO for the US marketplace. California Olive Ranch (http://www.
Comments from the fabulous Whom You Know panel include:
"California Olive Ranch (COR), extra virgin olive oil has a nice, light taste and color. Sprinklling it on salads wakes up all vegetables with no heavy, oily taste or aftertaste just refreshing flavor. Its delicate composition enhances all foods with delight. You must try this oil to savor its delicate rewards. COR's olive oil is an all natural product, no artificial qualities. It is aptly showcased in the intriguing green bottle. A must-have staple in any and all homes!"
"Until now, my experience with olive oil had me thinking that all brands are pretty much the same and that even the variations in color or the virgin/extra virgin/light designations were inconsequential. Today, I stand corrected. Today, I sautéed chicken in a shallow pan with a couple tablespoons of California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil, and for the first time, I tasted the difference. Now, I can’t say I wasn’t looking for it because I was. For the first time in my life, I even took a whiff of the stuff before coating the pan with it. Surprised by the sweet, fruity aroma, I immediately pulled out the bottle of evoo I’ve been using just for comparison. I mean, maybe I’d been using 'the good stuff' all along and didn’t know it! What I found was a scent that actually paled in comparison. My stuff was just kind of oily smelling. When I finally got to the cooking and tasting part, I became a devoted fan of California Olive Ranch extra virgin olive oil. Chicken tenderloins on a fresh cut salad never tasted so good! The only thing I’d do differently next time is use the evoo to make my own dressing. It smells and tastes so fresh, I’m sure it will make one hell of a balsamic vinaigrette."
"Everyday California Fresh is packaged in a beautiful dark green bottle. The reason for this is to prevent light from entering the oil, thus keeping it really fresh. Everyday California Fresh is America's first domestically produced EVOO, it is made from 100% California-grown olives. When I first opened the bottle I could smell a fresh olive aroma, it was very vibrant and fruity. In order to do a true test, I had stopped at the grocery store and purchased some fresh bread, I honestly think this is one of the best ways to sample great olive oil. I noticed how buttery and smooth it was with hints of flowers and fruit, I was left with a slight peppery taste. I left the bottle open a little longer to let it breath, when I tried again later, the peppery taste seemed to linger, it was very satisfying! For dinner I planned on stir frying chicken and used the oil to cook. It gave the chicken extra flavor and it definitely seemed to have a more buttery taste to it. Lastly I served my chicken with salad, I poured a little oil over the salad as dressing and then squeezed a little lemon over this seemed to bring out more of the fruity taste in the oil. Overall, I have to say that I am hooked on this California Fresh Olive Oil and look forward to using it again and again....the shorter harvest to crush cycle they use really does maximize freshness."
"When I received my green bottle of Fresh California Olive Oil, I did not quite know what to expect. In other words, in what way would fresh olive oil taste different from the extra virgin olive oil I regularly purchase. I read the information on the bottle which informed me that this olive oil is cold-pressed within hours of picking for a fresher taste. Also, that the distinct green bottle keeps the olive oil fresher longer. Beyond that I read that this olive oil is 100% natural, unrefined and unfitered. It contains no trans-fatty acids or geneteically modified ingredients Even more interesting, it can be traced directly to the specific block of land within the orchards where the olives were originally grown. All this was intriguing news. But it did not tell me how fresh would taste. So I opened the bottle to find out for myself--like a wine tasting. To my pleasant surprise--even amazement--thus olive oil tastes exactly like a DELICIOUS OLIVE! Imagine that--busting with flavor. I can't wait to use it on a salad--and to cook with it. Now I understand what the meaning of fresh olive oil is."
| What is California Olive Ranch (COR)? | Established in 1998, California Olive Ranch (COR) is the largest grower and producer of certified California extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in North America, producing 40% of the extra virgin olive oil made in California. All of COR’s world-class extra virgin olive oils exceed the minimum quality standards as defined by the International Olive Council (IOC) and the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) and its products are used by chefs and the food industry at large. Today, California Olive Ranch is the world’s largest producer of extra virgin olive oil using the super high-density system of olive cultivation. COR pioneered the super high density (SHD) system of olive tree cultivation in California, which allows 570-675 olive trees to be planted per acre compared to 100-150 trees per acre on a traditional olive ranch. COR’s orchards are some of the largest SHD orchards in the world. In August 2009, the company launched Everyday California Fresh EVOO to consumers. This is America’s first domestically produced EVOO available in quantities sufficient to supply the entire US market with fresh EVOO. |
| Everyday California Fresh EVOO ingredients | COR’s Everyday California Fresh EVOO is made from 100% California-grown olives. The flavor profile delivers a distinct fruity nose, grassy and floral notes, with a smooth & buttery tongue, and a slight peppery finish. The oil is made from all three COR varietals – Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki olives. The harvest date of the olives is listed on the back label of each bottle. Everyday California Fresh EVOO is 100% natural, unrefined, and unfiltered. It contains no trans-fatty acids or genetically modified ingredients. It is certified to be extra virgin olive oil by the COOC – California Olive Oil Council. The dark green glass bottle prevents light and oxygen from damaging the oil that in turn helps keep the oil fresher longer. |
| What is “extra virgin” olive oil? | EVOO is generally defined as olive oil that has been produced from 100% mechanical means (i.e. no chemical refinement or heat treatment of the fruit). The olive fruit must have been crushed exactly one time (i.e. “first cold pressed”). Even if all these processes have been strictly followed, the resulting olive oil must still meet several additional standards.
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| COR roots | California Olive Ranch chose the land in Northern California because of its abundance as well as the soil and climate similarities found only in the Mediterranean’s finest olive orchards. COR practices rigid quality control, constant product testing and tastings to ensure consistently exceptional, fresh, “just picked” flavor. When it comes to olive oil, freshness is key. |
| How does COR make their EVOO? Freshness makes all the difference. | COR’s objective is to become north America’s leading brand of EVOO that is entirely domestically produced. Super high density utilizes olive bushes, also known as semi-dwarf trees that grow to about nine feet tall. In traditional orchards, trees often grow to over 45 feet. The typical olive bush produces approximately 7-8 liquid ounces of olive oil. The SHD system uses a trellis system, similar to grapevines and vineyards, specifically for mechanical harvesting. A mechanized harvester reaps 99% of fruit in mere seconds per tree, compared to several hours required to hand harvest the fruit. The shorter harvest-to-crush cycle maximizes freshness, produces much better quality oil, and greater product consistency year-to-year. |
| Reduced Environmental Footprint | CORs process delivers a number of environmentally-friendly benefits:
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| 100% Traceability | 100% of COR’s EVOO can be traced directly to the specific block of land within any of its orchards where the fruit was originally grown. This applies equally to COR’s estate ranches and all of its partner ranches. No foreign-supplied, national brand of EVOO can make this claim. |
| EVOO is healthy and natural | EVOO contains Oleic Acid – the “good” fat known to lower “bad” cholesterol:
It's one of the few oils that is made simply by pressing the fruit and extracting the oil without any solvents or heat, which degrades quality. EVOO can be routinely substituted anytime for butter, and is a delicious and healthier way to prepare meats, vegetables and salads. |
| Where to Buy | In addition to the COR online shop where products can be shipped anywhere in the US, consumers can find Everyday California Fresh EVOO at the following retail outlets:
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| Price | MSRP for Everyday California Fresh EVOO is $8.99 for 500 ml bottle; $11.99 for a 750ml bottle |
| Accolades & Awards | The September 2009 issue of Cook’s Illustrated recognized COR as the number one extra virgin olive oil from California for its “fresh, sweet, fruity flavor and pleasing hint of bitterness.” COR received three medals from the California Olive Oil Council for its 2008 harvest EVOOs: Two gold medals and one silver medal for single varieties. COR received the U.S. Commerce Association’s 2009 Best of Oroville Award in the Olive Oil category. |
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