If you love olive oil (and let’s be honest—who doesn’t?), you’ll be excited to hear that some of California’s best oils have just been crowned right here in our backyard. The 10th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJVOOC), hosted by The Big Fresno Fair, has announced its 2025 winners—and Central Valley producers made a big impression.
A total of 58 entries from 22 olive oil producers across California were submitted for judging, all made from the 2024 olive harvest. From bold Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) to creative citrus- and herb-infused blends, this competition recognized excellence across 10 classes of oils.
🏆 Best of Show Goes to…
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Tulare County)
- Flavored Olive Oil: ENZO Olive Oil Company Organic Meyer Lemon (Fresno and Madera Counties)
These top-tier oils were judged to be the very best in their categories—balancing complexity, flavor, and varietal character with perfection.
🌿 Local Excellence: “Best of the Valley”
The “Best of the Valley” award celebrates local producers whose oils stood out among their peers in Central California. This year’s EVOO winner was:
- La Torre Olive Ranch Ascolano (Tulare County)
It’s a reminder that some of the best olive oil in the world is made right here in the Central Valley.
🥇 Other Gold Medal Standouts from Our Area
A few local producers really showed up and showed out:
- ENZO Olive Oil Company took home multiple Gold Medals across categories, including:
- Organic Meyer Lemon
- Organic Eureka Lemon
- Organic Basil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Delicate
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Bold
- Rio Bravo Ranch (Kern County) struck gold with its Picual and Coratina EVOOs, showcasing bold, varietal-specific flavors.
- Olivaia’s OLA (Tulare County) also dominated with a range of award-winning oils, from Spanish blends to heirloom super blends.
🧄 Flavored Olive Oil Favorites
Flavored olive oils are gaining fans fast, and this year’s winners didn’t disappoint:
- Citrus lovers will appreciate ENZO’s Organic Meyer Lemon and Eureka Lemon.
- For those who like a kick, Corto Olive Co.’s Calabrian Chili and ENZO’s Fresno Chili earned top marks.
📍 See & Taste the Winners at the Big Fresno Fair
All award-winning olive oils will be on display in the Agriculture Building during the 2025 Big Fresno Fair (October 1 – 12). If you’ve never experienced the flavor profile of a true Gold Medal olive oil, this is your chance to sip, swirl, and savor.
You’ll also find educational exhibits on how olive oil is made and why it’s such a healthful (and delicious) part of your diet.
📅 Looking Ahead
Producers already looking to enter the 2026 competition can find details and applications online starting February 2026 at FresnoFair.com.
Support Local. Eat Local.
The Central Valley is known for its agriculture—and now, increasingly, for its award-winning olive oil. Next time you’re drizzling over salad or dipping some fresh sourdough, make sure it’s from one of these local champions.
👉 Have a favorite local olive oil? Let us know in the comments or tag us on Instagram @FresYes!
I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.
I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.
Fresno? I say FresYES
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