Condiments and Sauces

San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition Winners Announced

Published June 12, 2023

After an extensive judging of quality California-produced olive oils, The Big Fresno Fair is excited to reveal the winners of the 8^th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition. This competition, which is open to all olive oil producers in California with products made from their 2022 olive harvest, received a total of 63 entries from 27 olive oil producers from throughout the state.

Entries were received in two categories: Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil, with 10 classes in total. Gold and Silver Medals were awarded, as well as an overall “Best of Show” and “Best of the Valley” selected from all of the highest scoring gold medal entries in both categories. In total there weres44 EVOO and 19 Flavored Olive Oil entries that were entered for judging. The winners of the 8th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition are as follows with counties of ranch locations noted in parenthesis:

Best of Show

Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Tulare) – EVOO

Corto Olive Co. Yuzu Citrus (San Joaquin) – Flavored Olive Oil

Best of the Valley

Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium 100% Mission (Merced)

Extra Virgin Olive Oils

Gold Medal Winners
- Spanish Blends: Corto Olive Co. Truly (San Joaquin), J. Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium 100% Mission (Merced), Cobram Estate Olive Oil 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Robust (Yolo/Sacramento), California Olive Ranch Miller’s Blend (Glenn)
- Spanish Singles: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina (Monterey), Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Tulare), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Picual (Yolo), The Olive Press Picual (Sonoma)
- Italian Blends: San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Eleganza (San Luis Obispo), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Paradiso (San Luis Obispo)
- Italian Singles: Rio Bravo Ranch Coratina (Kern), Rio Bravo Ranch Frantoio (Kern), Tres Osos Olive Oil Taggiasca (Monterey), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Coratina (Yolo), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Late Harvest Coratina (Yolo), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Itrana (Yolo), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Coratina (Sutter)

Gold Medal Winners
- Other Blends: OH Olive Oil (Kern), Olivaia’s OLA Block X Heirloom (Tulare), Rio Bravo Ranch Miller’s Reserve Blend (Kern)
- Other Singles: Coastal Press Extra Virgin (Madera/Tulare)

Silver Medal Winners:
- Spanish Blends: Olivaia’s OLA Block X Super (Tulare), Cobram Estate 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Classic (Yolo/Sacramento) Cobram Estate Olive Oil 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – CA Select (Yolo/Sacramento)
- Spanish Singles: Rio Bravo Ranch Picual (Kern), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil (San Joaquin), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Hojiblanca (Yolo), California Olive Ranch Reserve Arbequina (Glenn), California Olive Ranch Reserve Arbosana (Glenn)
- Italian Blends: San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Fantastico (San Luis Obispo), Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Estate Olive Oil (Monterey), J. Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium Tuscan Blend (Merced), Terra Savia Field Blend (Mendocino), Colomba Bianca Frantoio/Mission (San Joaquin)
- Italian Singles: Terra Savia Moraiolo (Mendocino)

Flavored Olive Oils

Gold Medal Winners
- Citrus: Corto Olive Co. Yuzu Citrus (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Lavish Lime (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Blood Orange (San Joaquin)
- Pepper: Corto Olive Co. Calabrian Chili (San Joaquin), The Olive Press Jalapeno (Sonoma)
- Other: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina-Smoked (Monterey), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Jalapeno Garlic (San Joaquin), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Citrus Habanero Olive Oil (Sutter)
Silver Medal Winners
- Citrus: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina-Lemon (Monterey), The Olive Press Citron (Sonoma), Coastal Press Lemon Olive Oil (Madera/Tulare), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Meyer Lemon Olive Oil (Sutter)
- Herbal: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Bountiful Basil (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Rustic Rosemary (San Joaquin), Coastal Press Basil Olive Oil (Madera/Tulare)
- Pepper: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno (San Joaquin)
- Other: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Guilty Garlic (San Joaquin), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Garlic Herb Olive Oil (Sutter)

All winners will be on display in the Agriculture Building with educational information on the art of making olive oil and its health benefits. Gold Medal, Best of Show and Best of the Valley winners will have the opportunity to have a booth in the Agriculture Building on one day during a weekend at the 2023 Big Fresno Fair.

Participants in the 2023 SJVOOC were evaluated and scored on the following criteria:

Gold Medal: Awarded to an olive oil that demonstrated its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals were 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 were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76 – 85 points.
Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall.
Best of the Valley: Awarded to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals were awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. (Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties eligible)

Details and the 2024 SJVOOC entry application will be posted in February 2024.

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Heinz Launches Saucemerica Collection of Packets

Published June 7, 2023

Heinz has launched The United States of Saucemerica Collection: a limited-edition line-up of 50 United States-inspired condiment packet designs. Saucemerica packets are available in seven condiment varieties, and each packet’s design corresponds to one of the 50 states and its most notable dish – hello, Idaho French Fries and Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds!

Rolling out nationwide through the end of August, Heinz is encouraging fans to collect as many different states’ packets as possible and upload them to www.saucemerica.com for a chance to win $500,000 worth of exciting prizes, including a grand prize of $100,000.

“From art to coins, stamps, and more, collecting culture has become a popular practice with devoted fanbases,” says Devaang Sibal, brand manager, Heinz Away from Home. “But perhaps the most unexpected collectible is the Heinz packet. An iconic on-the-go staple, Heinz fans everywhere collect packets in their homes, bags and cars, to ensure they are always on hand in case of a condiment conundrum. With the Saucemerica Collection, we are excited to pay homage to this fan behavior with the unique, hometown pride-evoking designs and multiple chances for fans to win prizes.”

Each Saucemerica packet features either Heinz Ketchup, Yellow Mustard, Real Mayonnaise, Ranch, BBQ Sauce, Tartar Sauce, or Simply Ketchup and the packet designs draw inspiration from the most beloved dishes from each of the 50 states. From a Maryland Crab Cake-inspired Tartar Sauce packet to Texas Brisket BBQ Sauce, Heinz carefully paired each state with the condiment variety that best enhances the dish spotlighted.

Through the end of August, fans can collect the Saucemerica packets at restaurants, drive-thrus, theme parks, movie theaters, stadiums, and more across the country. To ensure consumers can collect as many unique packs as possible all summer long, every participating operator will receive a mix of states throughout June, July and August, depending on which of the seven condiment varieties they feature on their menu.

The SaucemericaCollection supports Heinz’s first global creative platform, “It Has to be Heinz,” which pays homage to its fans by celebrating the irrational love people have for Heinz – from real fans’ personal love affairs with the brand, to the love and care its products are made with. Inspired by real fan stories, including those who always keep condiment packets on hand for “sauce-mergencies,” the brand lives its new purpose with the Saucemerica Collection, uplifting and celebrating this beloved behavior.

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Kelley’s Gourmet Mustard Named Grand Champion

Published May 16, 2023

Kevin Kelley’s late father, Howard, must be proud. Howard had started a successful catering business in the 1960s and Kevin learned that his customers loved his mustard. Kevin heard about the Mustard Competition in 2012 and entered his Kelley’s Gourmet stone ground blend in 2012 and every year since. He has won several medals over the years in the Deli Category and this year was crowned Grand Champion. It is pure magic on a corned beef or pastrami sandwich.

More than 250 mustards from around the world entered this year’s competition, held under thell direction of Barry Levenson, curator and founder of the nonprofit National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wis. Judges tasted mustards from as far away as Finland, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, France, Japan, and Sweden.

The National Mustard Museum, home of the world’s largest collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia, has coordinated this annual blind tasting since 1995. This year, more than 40 judges from around the country sampled mustards in 19 categories: sweet-hot, mild, honey, classic Dijon, whole grain, whole seed, classic hot, pepper medium, pepper hot, horseradish-wasabi, herb-veggie, garlic, fruit, mostardas, spirit, American yellow, deli, exotic, and mustard-based BBQ sauces.

For the second year in a row, Plochman’s, the venerable mustard company in Manteno, Ill., captured four Gold Medals, while Beaverton Foods, from Beaverton, Ore., won eight medals, including three Golds.

Perhaps this year’s biggest surprise was the Australian company MasterFoods, winning the Gold in the Classic American Yellow category.

The National Mustard Museum will display the winning mustards in a Salute to the Winners on Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29). The museum will host its 33rd annual International Mustard Day on Saturday, Aug. 5.

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