Those who buy Extra Virgin Olive oil might want to read this. I for one am shocked.

[snagglepuss]

One estimate is that 98% of EVO sold in Italy is nothing of the sort, massive raids by organized gangs with tankers stealing olive oil, massive fraud, customs officiers turning a blind eye, the list goes on. Well worth the read.


snip

According to Tom Mueller, author of a new book on the subject, Extra Virginity: The Sublime And Scandalous World of Olive Oil, not all virgins are as pure as they might seem — and the world of olive oil is increasingly beset with fraud, smuggling and even poisoning.

snip

A few years ago, Bertolli, the biggest olive oil brand in the world, suffered a multi-million euro theft at its plant near Milan — with sophisticated thieves using jammed security cameras, guns and lorries to secure their bounty.

snip

... one former producer claiming 98% of what is sold in Italy as extra-virgin olive oil is actually nothing of the sort


snip

Don’t be fooled by Italian flags or Tuscan olive groves on a label. Italy is one of the world’s largest importers of olive oil, much of which is then blended, stuck into suitably Italian packaging and re-exported.






Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-2086440/Olive-oil-Fraud-intimidation-unpalatable-truth.html#ixzz1jSF61WMO

[xchrom]

1. Nothing is sacred. Nt

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Momma Mia!!!!! What's a person to do. That is even my favorite brand.

[Moonwalk]

21. Buy California Olive Oil?

[GoCubsGo]

33. Australia is also becoming a significant producer.

I have had Aussie olive oil on a few occasions. It was a little sharp, but still very tasty.

[Dr Fate]

45. let Australians buy that. USA olive oil is the deal. Nt

Nt

[GoCubsGo]

56. It's all a matter of preference.

Olive oil is like wine. Each orchard's oil has its own characteristics. If I prefer an Australian olive oil's taste over the stuff from the USA, I will buy that, just as I am more likely to choose an Italian Peccorino cheese over the American version.

[Dr Fate]

65. Many Liberals prefer products made by The Koch brothers...

...over more expensive products made by smaller, liberal companies.

My preference is to support the US workforce where I can, just as it is my preference to support liberal and smaller, regional businesses over Republican owned corporations.

I'm just using this thread to encourage folks to buy USA for a change.

[GoCubsGo]

70. That's nice.

I prefer to buy USA-made, too--when I can afford to, and when the product is superior to the import. When it comes to food products, if I don't like it, I'm not buying it. I don't care where it was made.

BTW, I rarely see California-made olive oil where I live. And, what I do see is well out of the range that I can afford.

[Moonwalk]

88. If you don't see it, and/or it costs too much to buy in stores...

Why not buy on-line? This is the 21st century here. You don't have to be limited by what is carried in local stores at their jacked-up prices. Here are some California Olive Oils (four that are supposedly very good; I'm sure there are a lot more). I believe that all sell their products on-line:

http://www.californiaoliveranch.com/?gclid=CMLtrcfi8qsCFYTe4Aod4XvbtA&
http://www.theolivepress.com/about-us/
http://www.corto-olive.com/
http://apollooliveoil.com/

[GoCubsGo]

90. Shipping is expensive.

What may be a "reasonable" price is made grossly expensive when shipping is added to the price. FAR out of my reach.

On edit: I just checked those links. Hell. $20-$30 for 375 ml is FAR out of my price range, never mind the shipping. Must be nice to be able to afford stuff like that.

[Dr Fate]

103. The standard 500Ml bottle of CA Olive is $10. I see plenty of foreign oil for that much or more.

Check the CA Olive Ranch link.

I see foreign olive oil priced at that amount all the time.

specifically looking at Aussie oils, I'm seeing their oils at $10 to $25 bucks too.

If one can afford Aussie oil at say, $8 to $10 bucks I think one can afford CA oil at $10 at least now and then.

The whole " must be nice to be able afford that" is a one way to make buying US products look like elitist foodie snobbery, but I'm talking about supporting the USA workforce in areas where it is possible.

[GoCubsGo]

106. I paid $3.99 for the Aussie olive oil.

That was for a 500 ml bottle. I don't pay $10 a bottle for my olive oil. I don't have that kind of money.

[Dr Fate]

107. You could afford to try US made olive oil now and then.

I budget things like this in by cutting costs elsewhere.

I'll bet that most folks who have the leisure time to sit on a computer arguing against buying US made products could come up with a way to support US products at least now and then.

Everything I own is not from the USA, but I don't feel compelled to make arguments in favor of buying outside the US. it's simply not the right direction we need to be going in.

We can all save money by never buying union made products again either, or by buying products that are the most harsh on the environment, or that are made in china or india. We could all save money by buying things from GOP owned businesses too. at least in the short term.

But is it a good idea, or something we should make arguments in favor of?

[GoCubsGo]

108. No. I cannot.

I do not have a fucking job. I cannot afford $10 a bottle olive oil, I don't give a shit where it is made. And, spare me your sanctimonious lectures on budgeting and spending money. I am not interested in them.

[Dr Fate]

109. G'Day, Mate!

"I don't give a shit..."

Yup, that about sums it up.

Hope you find a job, here on DU, while arguing against supporting the businesses who are providing American jobs.

[GoCubsGo]

110. G'Day to you, too, Dr. Self-Righteous.

[Dr Fate]

111. Name calling in political discussion seems Australian.

Another fine Aussie import from Murdoch Inc!

If you can't shoot down the liberal position, call the messenger "self righteous" or indicate that doing the right thing is akin to elitism.

[GoCubsGo]

112. Whoops. Looks like I hit a nerve.

Be careful. If you wag that finger of yours any more, it might fall off.

[Dr Fate]

113. It looks like you resorted to name calling....

....b/c you don't have much of anything else to say about the topic.

You like wagging a finger against buying USA products, I like wagging a finger for it. Fair enough.

[GoCubsGo]

114. No....

I just don't like sanctimonious people lecturing me on how I should spend my money.

[Dr Fate]

115. Donate to DEMS instead of the GOP.

opps. Did it again. Did that make me a "sanctimonious" person?

Would A liberal be sanctimonious if he said you could cut some things out of your budget to free up money for say, donations to DU, or donations to an important local political campaign?

If so, then guilty as charged, but seems like money and where we spend it is a big part of the equation here.

That is really all I am talking about here, and all I ever said was that folks could at least give it a try( that is thinking about what they buy and voting with their wallets)now and then.

[GoCubsGo]

116. Whatever.

All I am saying is that I have no fucking money to buy US made olive oil, or donate to DEMS or anyone else. I also don't like people telling me how to spend my money---what very little of it I have. What part of that don't you understand?

[ArtisanalFoodLover]

127. Spam deleted by azurnoir (MIR Team)

[Dr Fate]

101. Nice if you are part of the Australian work force I am sure.

Not so nice if you are an American small business hoping other Americans will be loyal to American products.

You said you bought the Australian oil b/c it was your taste preference, now you say it is a budget consideration as well.

Just looking on google real quick- Austrailan oil is anywhere from $10 up to $25 for 500mll.

I've been getting CA oil for about $8 or $9 for the same amount.

American olive oil is competitive with foreign brands, and can be affordable if you make an effort.

You could always request it from your grocer and see what happens, or try ordering sow on online.

[snagglepuss]

58. What sort of precasutions are in place to insure that US EVO is in

fact extra virgin?

[Dr Fate]

66. A UC Davis study says CA Ranch olive oil is up to snuff. (see post #23)

But besides that, would it hurt Liberals to support the US workforce by buying food made here in the USA?

[Fool Count]

84. It may be "the deal", but there could be a reason for it.

In terms of corruption and fraud I wouldn't trust profit-obsessed US producers much more than
the Italian mafia-owned operators. If you are after guaranteed quality and authenticity,
aussie is the way to go. That's why Australian EVOO has that characteristic bite of sharpness -
they don't adulterate it at all.

[Dr Fate]

102. CA Olive oil in fact the real deal, per a UC Davis study noted in this thread.

I already referenced the post #in this thread -a UC Davis study that showed CA Olive Ranch Oil is indeed the real deal.

CA Olive oil makers are "profit obsessed us producers" according to your argument?

Errrr, okay. But half the reason US olive oil cost a buck or two more is bc the US producers pay their workers fair wages. If anything these regional producers in the US are making less profit than the trans-national producers.

I can see getting boomerangs and veggimite from Australia, if you must have such items.

But olive oil? We can and do make that stuff here in the USA.

Would it it kill us as liberals to buy things that are made in the USA, especially things that we are in fact making and trying to sell to each other?

One strategy is to wait for politicians and corporations to "create jobs" and demand for US products while we shop for foreign goods. Another is to start looking at what we buy and vote with our wallets.
with our wallets.

[HillWilliam]

100. We're growing our own

There are olives that will grow in central NC. So far we have 3 trees and are trying to propagate some more. In the next three years we'll have enough for ourselves; in five, enough to take some to the farmers market.

[southernyankeebelle]

37. I live in TN where could I find that and what is their brand name?

[Agony]

57. Here is one California Oil

I like both their Early Harvest and EV oil.

http://www.barianioliveoil.com/index.php

[southernyankeebelle]

62. Hmmm good. Thanks

[freshwest]

73. Thanks, looks like I'll have to get it online?

[Agony]

91. I buy it online... gets here just fine.

olive oil with crushed fresh garlic and fresh no knead bread for dipping... ... ...

I also buy olive from here----->https://www.canaanusa.com/shop/olive-oils/ but you have to buy it by the case
this is probably the best olive oil I have ever had.

[2banon]

97. thanks for the link..

I just checked it out. Pricing seems incredibly reasonable, even for a low wage slave like me. Beauty products seem interesting. Next pay day I'm putting in order for their shampoo, face cream, and oil of course.

[Moonwalk]

87. I'm not sure what stores in your area might sell it...

...as I don't know what stores there are there. But one can always buy on-line:

Here are four California olive oil makers:

http://www.californiaoliveranch.com/?gclid=CMLtrcfi8qsCFYTe4Aod4XvbtA&
http://www.theolivepress.com/about-us/
http://www.corto-olive.com/
http://apollooliveoil.com/

[XemaSab]

83. The Corning economy thanks you for your purchase

[CTyankee]

121. I just bought my first bottle of California olive oil...

arividerci, italia...

[trumad]

2. Know your Virgin

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Only a partner will know for sure

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I read the book - it's really interesting.

The author says, among many other things, if you pay less than about $10 per liter for your olive oil, you're not getting extra virgin regardless what the bottle says; it might not even be entirely olive oil, at all, could be cut with other vegetable oils.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. Basta (enough) already your killing me. I use EVOO all the time. I can't take it.

[lpbk2713]

6. Alton Brown would be aghast.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. Forget him, Am aghast.

[FarLeftFist]

9. You mean she lied when she said she was a virgin?!

[lunatica]

19. No telling but if she said she was extra-virgin, then yes. She lied.

[justiceischeap]

10. The article doesn't really say where or how you can find authentic EVOO

I use EVOO because it has a tendency to be lower in saturated fat (and I can't have much sat fat in a day)... What is a foodie to do?

[hvn_nbr_2]

17. One way to get authentic EVOO

I've read about this problem and that it's not just EVOO, it's about even non-EV olive oil being not necessarily olive oil. What I read (sorry, no link--it was a good while ago when I read this) said that California olive oil is authentic. I don't remember if it was state regulation and oversight or if it was the California olive oil industry doing self-monitoring. The downside is that Calif. olive oil is not particularly easy to find.

[justiceischeap]

20. Thank you! I'm not against buying olive oil online if need be. nt

[Zalatix]

30. Hard to adulterate US olive oil with so many agencies watching

I'm sure it happens but we've got regulations for a REASON.

And if I were a thief I'd rather try robbing a manufacturer in Spain or Italy rather than the US. People 'round here are armed...

[Bluenorthwest]

22. California makes some of the finest there is....

http://www.cooc.com/
That links has producers and their standards and also retailers. The difference is in the aroma, the taste, the color, the works....

[justiceischeap]

28. Thanks!

I'm going to buy some and try it. Now that I've read this, I wonder if I've ever really had authentic olive oil and what they taste difference will be like. I think currently I'm using Kirkland brand (from Costco).

[freshwest]

76. That's what I'm using. It used to be in green glass bottles, but still seems good stuff.

[freshwest]

75. Ah, thanks, more good things from CA.

[CTyankee]

122. I tasted evoo in a restaurant in Florence back in 2010 and I wanted to drink the stuff, it was

so good!

I have no illusions I'll find that here in the U.S.

Just got my first bottle of California olive oil. It is a little bit stronger than my "italian" evoo so I am hopeful for it. I cook with evoo all the time...

[gateley]

11. More and more it's becoming apparent that the only way we can know for sure what

we're getting is to grow it ourselves or buy from local producers. And since I'm not aware of any olive groves in the area...

[JVS]

12. Damned olive tramps!

[pipi_k]

59. Absolutely disgusting....

the way some of them will get it on with any old pimento...

[mulsh]

13. standard olive oil is hever hard to find in our local stores. I don't use extra virgin much

but I use standard olive oil for frying stuff and in most recipes. At Whole Foods and Berkeley Bowl, for instance there are hundreds of little bottles of EVOO but you're lucky if you can find one of the regular stuff.
The same goes for Safeway and Trade Joes in my area.

Fortunately a couple of times a year the bowl stocks the large can of Star olive oil or some bulk stuff from Spain.

[xchrom]

24. it is hard to find standard olive oil.

usually i use evoo for just about everything -- cause it's easy to find.

but standard olive oil is really good.

[southernyankeebelle]

63. I don't like olives and the standard taste to strong for me. I only buy the Extra Olive Oil. I

use to buy the Pompeii brand. Not any longer.

[vanlassie]

14. My elderly dad used to sell cottonseed oil, and was just telling me this week about a huge scandal

back in the seventies where a new buyer started purchasing lots of cottonseed oil and it eventually turned out that it was being send to Spain to blend with olive oil there.

[Swede]

15. 60 Minutes just did a similar story about truffles.

They sellers were mixing in 20-50% Chinese truffles,which cost 1/100th of French truffles.

[justiceischeap]

16. I saw that

plus the mafia is involved. They stole dogs, genuine truffles from chefs, etc. It was shocking that there is so much crime in the food industry.

[Mojorabbit]

38. Same thing happens with honey

There have been some good articles on honey laundering the past few years. A lot of honey on the shelves is adulterated. I keep bees so that is not an area I have to be concerned about on my table.

[niyad]

39. thank goodness for my local honey producers

[oldhippie]

18. I'm crushed!

Crushed, I say.

[justiceischeap]

23. For those that are interested in buying authentic EVOO

just found this site: http://bit.ly/yYrgvE

How to get real olive oil

• Avoid “Light” olive oil at all costs. This is the lowest quality olive oil on the plant.
• If you can find oils with the International Olive Oil Council certification, go for those.
• Buy Californian olive oils, which are far less adulterated than imported oil.
• Do your homework. Find a reputable company or source and buy small bottles from them.

What Olive Oils to Buy… and Avoid

In the UC Davis study, these brands failed to meet extra-virgin olive oil standards:

Bertolli
Carapelli
Colavita
Filippo Berio
Mazzola
Mezzetta
Newman’s Own
Pompeian
Rachel Ray
Safeway
Star
Whole Foods

In the same study, these olive oils met the extra-virgin standards:

Corto Olive
California Olive Ranch
Kirkland Organic
Lucero (Ascolano)
McEvoy Ranch Organic

[niyad]

29. no wonder those brands are always on sale at the supermarkets

thank goodness I haven't purchased any this week

thank you for that very helpful list

[justiceischeap]

34. No problem. I was shocked to see the Kirkland brand on there

I figured Costco olive oil (which is what I have right now) would be a big, huge fake. Check out the link at the bottom too, http://www.cooc.com/

[dana_b]

36. I was thinking the same thing

well - at least now we know what to look for.

[Dr Fate]

48. Great info. Glad to see California Ranch (made in the USA) meets EVOO standards.

Nt

[freshwest]

78. YAY! My Kirkland Organic made the list!

[aquart]

118. UC Davis? University of CALIFORNIA?

[quinnox]

25. very interesting, I buy Bertolli olive oil

and love it on fish, so this is of interest to me. I didn't realize there were shenanigans going on around these terms. It is expensive stuff too, even the "normal" olive oil which is what I buy.

[Texasgal]

26. I buy from a local farmers market

Texas Olive oil made fresh from a farm just thirty miles from the city!

[northoftheborder]

32. Is the name "Texas Olive"?

[Texasgal]

52. No, it's called Bella Vista Ranch

http://www.texasoliveoil.com/

[northoftheborder]

117. I found "Texas Olive Ranch" yesterday at HEB, made in Carrizo Springs, TX.

[Dr Fate]

49. I was not ware of TX olive oil. awesome that there are so many made in the USA options.

e should all be buying made in the USA food products across the board anyway, unless we are talking about something you really can't get here.

[Texasgal]

53. Yup!

Been around for years.

Texas has been coming up, we have award winning wineries all over now too!

[niyad]

27. thank goodness for CA olive oils

[shanti]

31. california olive producers

here's a list, in case anyone's interested:

http://www.cooc.com/producers_certified.html

personally, i've tried the corto brand, and it is excellent, several varieties too.

[Dr Fate]

44. Thanks for the list of Made in The USA olive oils.

Nt

[BlueIris]

35. Great. I've used it religiously for four years.

Really, really like the stuff.

[Faygo Kid]

40. I only buy from Genco Olive Oil importers. I trust the Corleone family.

They made me an offer I could not refuse.

[Blue_Tires]

92. Their entry into the industry probably got the snowball rolling

[winstars]

94. "The trucks owned by your father"

There actually is a Genco Olive Oil sold army local Italian deli!!!

[K8-EEE]

41. Bertoli is awful.....have had good luck with CA olive oil

I actually threw some out once, it tasted rancid....love the CA olive oil from Fresh and Easy.

[Dr Fate]

43. USA Olive oil. problem solved. Thanks!

Nt

[Dr Fate]

42. Buy olive oil made in the USA. Specifically, from California.

"California Olive Ranch" makes a good one, and there are others.

Problem solved. Buy USA olive oil.

Why is anyone at DU buying shit from another country when we could buy USA?

[justiceischeap]

46. I'd guess it's like any other product we buy that isn't made in the USA...

Cost.

I just bought a 500ml bottle online and it was $16. I usually scoff at paying $7 for EVOO made in another country. That said, I will continue to purchase the Kirkland brand at bulk.

[Dr Fate]

51. It is not cheaper to support Italy than it is to support the American work force.

Not in the long run, not when you look at the big picture.

If cost is the issue, then it costs you and everyone else more to abandon American products over foreign ones.

califronia Olive Ranch is nowhere near 16 bucks for 500ml, more like $8, and you are supporting an American business.

Kirkland olives are from Italy, so they are also shipping that stuff all the way across the ocean, causing more damage to the environment, yet another long term cost.

[justiceischeap]

55. Since I can't get that locally, I have to order online

which means by the time you add shipping costs, I'm gonna end up paying more. I use EVOO for health reasons, so I'm willing to pay extra money for an authentic oil. If I can support a US company, I will. But not everyone can afford doing this. That was my point, I understand the long-term ramifications, I really do but when you have to choose between paying bills and eating, I suspect people are going to buy the cheapest product they can.

BTW, I cancelled my order for the more expensive EVOO I'd found and looked into your suggestion. I ended up buying that (shipping was $6).

[Dr Fate]

64. Glad you found some USA oil that was affordable.

Nt

[Zalatix]

82. Cheap imported stuff isn't so cheap when you weigh in the externalities. n/t

[Zalatix]

72. Hear, hear! A DUer after my own heart, talking SOLUTIONS!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

47. I expect olives grow in China

[jberryhill]

50. Popeye Will Be Devastated

[RagAss]

69. Bazinga !

[BOHICA12]

54. If the cap is easy to open - don't trust it's - it been opened before!

You're going to have a great experience - just not what was advertised!

[MichaelMcGuire]

60. Its probably the excuse I needed to jump over to the spray-on one cal

As my body is a temple and such

[Warpy]

61. Mostly they import the olives

from wherever they can be grown. They also import the oil, meaning a lot of those words on the label mean nothing.

"Virgin" applies to the first pressing of the olives. In modern terms, that means rolling, pressing, or centrifuging at high speed to get every bit of natural oil out of the fruit. "Extra Virgin" is utterly meaningless, it's all the same process.

"Cold pressed" is equally meaningless, since "cold" is a relative term that differs within every pressing plant all over the Mediterranean; even within Italy, itself.

The stuff to avoid like the plague it is is the light colored, flavorless "olive oil" without "virgin" on the label. That indicates the oil has been extracted chemically from the rubbish left over from the first pressing. While the original fruit might have been an olive, this oil bears no resemblance to the real thing.

Unless you know a little old man with his own olive grove and hand cranked press somewhere in Sicily or Spain, the best thing to do is stick with big brands like Bertolli, who at least test the stuff to make sure it came from olives instead of altered furniture wax, and stick with one you like the taste of. Real olive oil costs, but the really fancy stuff with the astronomical price tag is no different from that bottle of Bertolli or Colavita, you're just paying for a different bottle and picture of happy peasants with trays of fresh olives.

[Dr Fate]

67. Why is Bertolli a better choice than the USA olive oils mentioned in this thread?

trans-national corporate, foreign, shipped thousands of miles over-seas oil may not be a better choice than fresh olive oil produced right here in the USA by USA businesses with USA workers.

I'm not the only one who thinks Bertolli is lame- see post #41.

I don't see how this news story is a reason for us to buy even more foreign olive oil from even larger foreign corporations. Seems like a good reason to look to USA made foods to me.

[Warpy]

80. Because I can't get them here, that's why

The local market stocks major brands. The health food stores stock niche brands that are overpriced for the fancy bottles and chichi labels as well as the major brands in the market. All are Mediterranean in origin.

It takes many, many years for an olive grove to mature fully. As the years go on, the California brands will likely take over and that's fine with me. Until then, I'll probably stick to the major brands, thanks, Italian or Spanish.

[Dr Fate]

98. request them. order them online now and then, and help build up the demand for it.

The one I get is called California Olive Ranch, it's a plain old bottle and it's about the same cost as most of the good Italian.

Italian, Spanish, no thanks. we should do more to support USA businesses and workers.

[MilesColtrane]

68. 1 barrel of Brent Crude oil = $111

1 barrel of EVOO (based on what I paid yesterday) = $2,119.83

I can see why this would be attractive to criminals.

[DonCoquixote]

71. being Latino

I use Goya, made from Spanish Olives. Spain is notorious for being sticklers, you cannot even cut down an Olice Tree without a permit.

[bongbong]

74. Not Always!

Last time I was in Spain, I had a (bunch of) drinks with a native who happened to work for an olive oil wholesaler. He told me most of the Spanish "Virgin" oil is not. Might be similar to the situation in Italy....

[brooklynite]

77. I buy mine from Lebanon...

...the local Arab groceries have a wide variety.

[tsuki]

79. I keep olive oil in the fridge because it is not

hydrogenated. If it fails to coagulate, I know it is not 100% olive oil.

[Art_from_Ark]

93. Interesting

Here in Japan, the choices are usually between Spanish and Italian olive oils. The kind I usually get is from Spain, and it definitely coagulates.

[Glen Bos]

81. I never use olive oil

The shit always burns! ALWAYS!

[Raine]

85. I never use it either

for one thing I don't hardly ever fry anything, like just about never.

[Agony]

99. Fry with it?! Heck I swig it out of the bottle! nt

[Codeine]

86. I use it in non-frying applications.

For me bread without olive oil is a sad, sad thing.

[Liberal_in_LA]

89. Thanks for this. I cook with ollive oil. really can't tell the diff between types

chefs on cooking shows act like there is a difference

[marlakay]

105. I cook with it also

glad to hear the brand at Costco I buy is okay. Surprised whole foods was not…yeah for Costco!

[lumberjack_jeff]

95. Not virgin?! Where's me spinach!? That rascally Brutus! I knew it! n/t

[condoleeza]

96. Balsamic Vinegar

Thanks for this information, so in line with this, I highly recommend Napa Valley Naturals Grand Reserve - aged 18 years - it is thick and sweet and by far the best I have ever found. Costs about 10 bucks for a small bottle, but a little goes a long ways.

Never trust a balsamic in a tinted bottle, look for one where you can tip it over to see if it coats the glass.

[Stuart G]

104. k & r nt

[hlthe2b]

119. Finally! I found the California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Oil that is recommended so highly.

Their website lists King Soopers in Denver and Ft. Collins, CO... I've checked four and not found it at any...

But, (and I hate to admit this), I finally found it at a Ft. Collins Super Walmart. Yes, I hate Walmart and can count on one hand how many times I've been in over the past 10 years or so, but there you go....

So, for others not near a Costco (for the also recommended Kirkland brand EVOO) and outside California or the general region, the California Olive Ranch EVOO can be found at Super Walmarts. Two bottle sizes... i bought the 25 ounce for about $9.50

[BumRushDaShow]

123. I found it too

at a local Pathmark a couple weeks ago. Have been using it regularly now, and so far so good!

[JVS]

120. I blame Rachel Ray

[pinboy3niner]

124. Rachel Ray introduced shorthand terms in the kitchen; then they came for the EVOO

I'm bracing for the expose on my S&P.

[JNelson6563]

125. Great thread! i learned so much from reading it all!

Excellent OP! What a great, informative discussion it kicked off. Thanks to all who went to the trouble of posting all the helpful info!

Julie

[underpants]

126. The Corleone family's base business was................

olive oil