There are two organizations in California that offer certification for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
COOC: California Olive Oil Council (est 1992)
OOCC: Olive Oil Commission of California (est 2014)
We are OOCC Certified.
Why are we not COOC (California Olive Oil Council) Certified?
Nick Sciabica was a founding member of the COOC – an organization founded by producers of California Olive Oil for promotion and education. Years later the COOC began regulating its members and their olive oil, requiring testing and certification. We did not agree with this because it is not in the spirit of its founding, and, more importantly, competitors should never regulate each other. Opposing the new regulation, we withdrew from the COOC.
Knowing that we needed a legal standard and true independent regulation, Jonathan Sciabica was on the founding committee for the OOCC Standard which is now enforced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), not California Olive Oil companies. The OOCC Standard is stricter than the COOC and its members are legally required to test every batch.
Keep in mind, that only California Olive Oil has a legal standard in the US. Imported olive oils do not legally have to comply with any standard.
You can learn more about the OOCC here: oliveoilcommission.org