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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The workshop will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mendocino College Lake Center, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.
Instructor Anni Minuzzo is a specialty food expert with more than 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, 20 of which were spent owning a wholesale baking company.
She has a broad network of professional associations and a long lens and hands-on expertise in this exciting industry's trending culture.
Topics she’ll cover include licensing, fees and certifications, the planning and production process, capitalization options, current and future industry trends, creative marketing ideas and more.
The cost is $45 for general admission, $40 for Women In Business and chamber members, and $35 for West Center clients.
Seating is limited. Call 707-964-7571 or visit www.westcenter.org/live-workshops.
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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The goal of this program is to anticipate which exotic pests are likely to arrive in California and to identify and test IPM strategies that can be rapidly implemented if the pests become established in California.
CDFA is responsible for preventing and mitigating invasive pests in California. Techniques resulting from the Proactive IPM Solutions Program will allow for rapid deployment of future management plans.
Applications are due on March 25 by 5 p.m.
Detailed information on this program, including the application process and application requirements, is available at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/proactive-ipm.html.
OPCA received an annual appropriation of $544,000 for this and other research as part of the 2018-2019 budget.
OPCA provides consultation to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation on pesticide regulatory matters.
The offices’ consultative activities focus on potential pesticide regulatory impacts and pest management alternatives that may mitigate or prevent such impacts on production agriculture.
OPCA staff is also involved in other projects relating to pesticide use and alternatives to high-impact pesticides.
Information on the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The competition is solely for oils made from olives which are grown, processed and bottled right here in California.
Despite an almost tragic 2018 growing season for many California olive oil growers, those producers fortunate enough to have a crop shone bright at the California State Fair Competition.
Head Judge Paul Vossen and his team of 12 Judges, swirled, sniffed and tasted 128 California olive oils. Two exceptional olive oil producers were honored with Best of Show Awards.
The year 2018 saw some outstanding olive oil from repeat Best of Show award winners Bondolio Olive Oil and Calivirgin Olive Oil.
The 2019 Best of Show Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the Estate Blend from Bondolio Olive Oil of Winters, California. The oil is a very unique blend in California of Biancolilla, Cerasuola and Nocellara olives.
The trees, which were specially imported from Sicily by the Bonds, produced an equally superior olive oil in 2017, when the oil also won a Best of Show Award at the California State Fair competition.
Judges describe the oil as having, “a great aroma. Well balanced and well made.”
Calivirgin Olive Oil also scored their second Best of Show win at the California State Fair competition, this time for their Hot Virgin Jalapeño Flavored Oil. In 2017 Calivirgin won Best of Show for their Lusty Lemon flavored olive oil. The multi-generational, family-run Coldani Ranch produces and bottles a mouth-watering variety of flavored olive oils under the name Calivirgin, and also produces a line of single-varietal extra virgin olive oils, labeled Lodi Olive Oil. Calivirgin also won a 2019 Best of Class Award for their Guilty Garlic flavored olive oil.
“The State Fair assembled an exceptional group of very experienced judges, some with over 20 years of involvement in the industry. Four new apprentice judges also participated as potential future judges. The high-quality oils shone through, even though the total number of entries was down. Californians can be very proud of the great olive oils being produced in this state,” says Paul Vossen, Olive Oil Industry Expert and Head Judge of the 2019 California State Fair Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
This competition honors Olive Oil producers of all production levels. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Microproducer Award (less than 500 gallons annually) was awarded to Halter Ranch for their Estate Mediterranean Blend. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by an Artisan Producer Award (between 500 and 5,000 gallons produced annually) was awarded to Tres Osos for their Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The Best California Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Large Producer Award (more than 5,000 gallons produced annually) went to Cobram Estate, Everyday Robust Olive Oil.
Complete results and competition information can be found on the California State Fair’s website at www.CaStateFair.org.
The California State Fair and State Agricultural leaders will present the top olive oil winners with an iconic Golden Bear Trophy at a media event on the steps of the State Capitol on June 27.
Also presented with awards will be Best of Show-winning commercial wine, beer and cheese producers. The same evening winning producers will be on hand at the Best of California Tasting event at Cal Expo, held prior to the Friends of the California State Fair Gala. Producers will show off what their hard work and great skill has yielded for California’s agricultural and cultural leaders.
During the 2019 California State Fair, July 12 to 28, fair guests will enjoy an exhibit featuring award-winning extra virgin olive oils, olive oil education classes, free tastings and the opportunity to purchase olive oil directly from the producer.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
These resources are available on www.oag.ca.gov/consumers.
There, consumers can find a variety of helpful consumer tips:
Money, credit and debt: Consumers can learn how to protect their hard-earned money and watch out for financial scams, including how to deal with banks, credit card issues, loans, debts and other financial issues.
Housing and vehicles: Consumers can find resources for landlords, tenants and other housing-related issues, as well as learn about auto-related issues including auto repair, insurance and car rentals.
Sales offers, purchases and returns: Consumers can discover how to protect themselves from scam sales offers, from checking a company’s background to spotting the warning signs for scams related to credit cards, zero-interest financing, crowdfunding, trial products, junk mail, magazine scams, sweepstakes, online purchases, and online privacy threats.
Contractors, consultants and other companies: Consumers can learn how to vet – or report complaints about – contractors, immigration consultants, financial advisors, attorneys, investment professionals, estate planners, tax preparers and tax scams, tech support scams, travel agents and health care providers.
Commonly targeted groups: Unfortunately, scammers often target certain groups of consumers, including immigrants and limited-English consumers, seniors, veterans, students and children. In addition, helpful information on military consumer protection issues including scam alerts, and resources and tips for financial readiness, is available on the Attorney General’s Military Consumer Protection page.
Common scams: Consumer can learn how to protect themselves from common scams, including charity scams, identity theft, living trust mills, loan modification fraud, and pyramid schemes.
Attorney General Becerra urges consumers to report complaints if they suspect misconduct. Complaints regulated by other government agencies should be reported directly those regulating agencies.
Consumers can find the appropriate agency and contact information using the complaint referral table offered on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.ca.gov/consumers/complaint-referral-table .
Consumers seeking to file a complaint against a business not regulated by another agency may file directly with the Attorney General’s office by calling 800-952-5225 or visiting www.oag.ca.gov/complaint.