Business News
SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) introduced Assembly Bill 2074, to establish clear guidelines for when companies from the olive oil industry can use the term “California” in their product labeling and marketing.
This measure will protect consumers and farmers by providing clear information about the source of the olives and olive oils in the products they buy.
California has had a thriving olive oil industry since the mid-19th century. The state produces 4 percent of the world’s olive oil from over 75 varieties of olives.
Due to California’s well-established reputation for producing high-quality olive oils, the demand for California olive oil is steadily increasing.
Because of this spike in demand, there has been an increase in branding of olive oil with the term “California” or a California regional designation when the product on shelves is actually blended using oils sourced from other regions of the world, including Spain, North Africa and Argentina.
As a result, a bottle of olive oil may be advertised and branded as “California” or a specific California region, but actually come from other countries.
This has led to consumer confusion, and places California olive farmers and oil producers at a competitive disadvantage.
“To us, it’s really quite simple,” said Peter and Debbie Hunter from Longview Ranch in Winters, California. “If a bottle is labeled as ‘California Oil’ it should be just that: 100 percent California produced olive oil. If a packer wants to blend non-California oils, then the bottle should not have the California moniker front-and-center. We adhere to strict regulations and labor practices in California, and consumers are beginning to recognize that. We must make sure that the trust in ‘California’ brands is not eroded.”
AB 2074 establishes clear guidelines for when olive oil producers can use the term “California” in their labeling.
The bill strengthens existing law by making it illegal to make any false representation that an olive oil is produced entirely from olives grown within California when it is not.
Similarly, the bill prohibits any representations indicating that an olive oil was produced from olives grown in a specific region of California, unless at least 85 percent of the olive oil was produced from olives grown in that region.
“California has the best agricultural products, and the highest environmental and labor standards, in the world. Consumers look for California-grown foods because they associate California with quality. Allowing companies to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying a California product because they slap ‘California’ on their package undercuts everything we’re trying to accomplish as a State,” said Aguiar-Curry.
“This bill will ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying, and it will help to support our local farmers who are producing world-class oils from olives grown here in our State. These folks may try to confuse my colleagues, but they’re making a profit off our state, and the price we ask for that is to actually produce a California product.”
By establishing stronger guidelines for olive oil producers to follow in their branding, labeling, packaging, and advertising, AB 2074 provides consumers with clear information about what they are purchasing.
AB 2074 does not restrict blending oils from different sources and destinations, but it makes clear through establishing standards that when “California” is used, the product actually comes from California.
This bill strengthens the integrity of the world-renowned California olive oil brand.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento.
This measure will protect consumers and farmers by providing clear information about the source of the olives and olive oils in the products they buy.
California has had a thriving olive oil industry since the mid-19th century. The state produces 4 percent of the world’s olive oil from over 75 varieties of olives.
Due to California’s well-established reputation for producing high-quality olive oils, the demand for California olive oil is steadily increasing.
Because of this spike in demand, there has been an increase in branding of olive oil with the term “California” or a California regional designation when the product on shelves is actually blended using oils sourced from other regions of the world, including Spain, North Africa and Argentina.
As a result, a bottle of olive oil may be advertised and branded as “California” or a specific California region, but actually come from other countries.
This has led to consumer confusion, and places California olive farmers and oil producers at a competitive disadvantage.
“To us, it’s really quite simple,” said Peter and Debbie Hunter from Longview Ranch in Winters, California. “If a bottle is labeled as ‘California Oil’ it should be just that: 100 percent California produced olive oil. If a packer wants to blend non-California oils, then the bottle should not have the California moniker front-and-center. We adhere to strict regulations and labor practices in California, and consumers are beginning to recognize that. We must make sure that the trust in ‘California’ brands is not eroded.”
AB 2074 establishes clear guidelines for when olive oil producers can use the term “California” in their labeling.
The bill strengthens existing law by making it illegal to make any false representation that an olive oil is produced entirely from olives grown within California when it is not.
Similarly, the bill prohibits any representations indicating that an olive oil was produced from olives grown in a specific region of California, unless at least 85 percent of the olive oil was produced from olives grown in that region.
“California has the best agricultural products, and the highest environmental and labor standards, in the world. Consumers look for California-grown foods because they associate California with quality. Allowing companies to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying a California product because they slap ‘California’ on their package undercuts everything we’re trying to accomplish as a State,” said Aguiar-Curry.
“This bill will ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying, and it will help to support our local farmers who are producing world-class oils from olives grown here in our State. These folks may try to confuse my colleagues, but they’re making a profit off our state, and the price we ask for that is to actually produce a California product.”
By establishing stronger guidelines for olive oil producers to follow in their branding, labeling, packaging, and advertising, AB 2074 provides consumers with clear information about what they are purchasing.
AB 2074 does not restrict blending oils from different sources and destinations, but it makes clear through establishing standards that when “California” is used, the product actually comes from California.
This bill strengthens the integrity of the world-renowned California olive oil brand.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
OAKLAND, Calif. – Better Business Bureau has received over 37 complaints regarding the company Dirt Cheap Barrels in the last three years.
The company came to BBB’s attention in 2016.
Consumers primarily report that they order wine barrels from the Napa-based company, but have not received their order and are unable to contact customer service.
Dirt Cheap Barrels responded to some consumer complaints, but on those occasions, the consumers were unsatisfied with Dirt Cheap Barrels’ response, claiming that Dirt Cheap Barrels was not following through in refunding the purchases.
As of Feb. 4, 2020, the company has 17 unanswered complaints on file with BBB.
Dirt Cheap Barrels informed BBB that they are based in the United Kingdom, although the company’s address is listed as 2700 Napa Valley Corporate Drive in Napa, California on customer invoices.
When Better Business Bureau called a company in the commercial building at that address, the company indicated that Dirt Cheap Barrels was not located in the office building, and stated that they receive many calls from consumers asking for the location of Dirt Cheap Barrels.
When BBB mailed a letter to the company’s Napa address, the mail was returned from the post office as “insufficient address.”
If you are looking to make an online purchase, BBB recommends researching the company prior to making any purchases.
You can evaluate a company’s credibility by referencing their business profile at www.bbb.org .
Reading reviews and customer complaints on www.bbb.org is a great way to learn more about a company before spending money.
The company came to BBB’s attention in 2016.
Consumers primarily report that they order wine barrels from the Napa-based company, but have not received their order and are unable to contact customer service.
Dirt Cheap Barrels responded to some consumer complaints, but on those occasions, the consumers were unsatisfied with Dirt Cheap Barrels’ response, claiming that Dirt Cheap Barrels was not following through in refunding the purchases.
As of Feb. 4, 2020, the company has 17 unanswered complaints on file with BBB.
Dirt Cheap Barrels informed BBB that they are based in the United Kingdom, although the company’s address is listed as 2700 Napa Valley Corporate Drive in Napa, California on customer invoices.
When Better Business Bureau called a company in the commercial building at that address, the company indicated that Dirt Cheap Barrels was not located in the office building, and stated that they receive many calls from consumers asking for the location of Dirt Cheap Barrels.
When BBB mailed a letter to the company’s Napa address, the mail was returned from the post office as “insufficient address.”
If you are looking to make an online purchase, BBB recommends researching the company prior to making any purchases.
You can evaluate a company’s credibility by referencing their business profile at www.bbb.org .
Reading reviews and customer complaints on www.bbb.org is a great way to learn more about a company before spending money.
- Details
- Written by: Better Business Bureau
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