California Olive Oil Council

What California Olive Oil Council does

The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) is a 501(c)6 nonprofit trade association founded in 1992 and headquartered in California (Atascadero mailing address; Berkeley legal/correspondence address). Its stated mission is to encourage consumption of certified California extra virgin olive oil through education, outreach, and communications. The COOC serves three principal segments: California olive oil producers and growers, retailers and culinary professionals, and end consumers. Its core product is the COOC Seal Certification Program, which delivers quality assurance testing (chemical and sensory analysis conducted through approved labs such as Eurofins US, Baker Wine & Grape Analysis, and Applied Sensory) guaranteeing that certified oils are 100% California-grown and meet extra virgin grade standards.

The association operates a portfolio of complementary offerings including an annual olive oil competition (with categories such as Best Tuscan Blend), Pioneer Awards for industry contributors (2017-2020 recipients include Dan Flynn of the UC Davis Olive Center), sensory education courses, trade show representation, a member directory, an industry resource library drawing on UC Davis best practices, and a blog/recipe content channel. It maintains strategic relationships with the UC Davis Olive Center, UC Cooperative Extension, Buy California Marketing Agreement/California GROWN, and the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS), whose 2016 First Place Recognition of the COOC Sensory Panel serves as third-party validation of the association's sensory standards. The board is drawn from across member companies (Carlos Machado/Agbiolab as President; Chris Calvert/Ciarlo Fruit & Nut as VP; John Mesrobian/The Mill at Kings River as Treasurer; plus members from Boundary Bend Olives, Coldani Olive Ranch, Corto Olive Co., Boccabella Farms, Enzo Olive Oil Co., and Sunrise Olive Ranch).

COOC generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues (tiered across producers, growers, retailers, and service providers on a July-to-June membership year) and Seal certification services routed via approved testing labs. The 2025-2026 membership year runs July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026; membership fees are non-refundable. Distribution of certified products to consumers occurs indirectly through member-operated tasting rooms, mill visits and tours, and grocery and specialty retail (Safeway, Nugget, Savemart, Palace Market, Carla's Fresh Market), with the COOC Seal functioning as the shared quality signal at point of sale.

Name

California Olive Oil Council

Legal name

California Olive Oil Council

Website

https://cooc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California Olive Oil Council is a 501(c)6 trade association founded in 1992 that certifies California extra virgin olive oil through its COOC Seal program, serves 100+ producer members, and educates retailers, chefs, and consumers on olive oil quality and authenticity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Certification Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Olive Groves (Olives for Oil & Table) (AFAGACAG)

Keywords

• Olive oil certification
• Trade association
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Quality assurance testing
• Agricultural member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Clovis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The California Olive Oil Council receives income each year from membership fees. Members include olive oil producers, growers, retailers, and service providers in the olive oil industry. The COOC also accepts donations to support operations, educational opportunities, and outreach.
2. Seal Certification Services: The COOC provides certification services through its Seal Certification Program. Producers pay for chemical and sensory analysis through approved labs (Eurofins US, Baker Wine & Grape Analysis, Applied Sensory) to obtain COOC Seal certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California Olive Oil Council is a nonprofit trade association that operates the COOC Seal Certification Program, which certifies that California extra virgin olive oils meet stringent chemical and sensory quality standards and are 100% California grown. It also runs an annual olive oil competition, provides sensory and industry education, and conducts consumer marketing and outreach to promote certified California extra virgin olive oil. Producers, growers, retailers, and service providers participate as dues-paying members.

Product overview

California Olive Oil Council (COOC) operates as a trade association and certification body for California extra virgin olive oil producers. The primary offering is the COOC Seal Certification Program, which provides quality assurance testing and guarantees that oils are 100% California grown and meet extra virgin grade standards. The organization also provides member services including a directory of certified producers, educational resources on olive oil tasting and usage, marketing and outreach programs, annual competitions, and industry resources such as grove management guides, sensory characteristics documentation, and presentations from member meetings. The COOC does not offer a unified software product but rather serves as a membership-based industry organization supporting the California olive oil industry through certification, education, and promotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COOC Seal Certification Program A quality assurance certification program for California extra virgin olive oil that tests oils through approved third-party labs (Eurofins US, Baker Wine & Grape Analysis, Applied Sensory) using chemical and AOCS/IOC-approved sensory analysis to certify that oils meet extra virgin grade standards and are 100% California grown. The COOC Seal on a bottle serves as the council's guarantee for freshness and truth in labeling.
• COOC Membership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• The COOC Sensory Panel received First Place Recognition from the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) in October 2016

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UC Davis Olive CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UC Davis Olive Center provides research, best practices, and industry reports for olive growers and processors. The COOC and UC Davis have collaborated on industry advocacy, and the UC Davis Olive Center has studied olive oil quality, including the influential 2011 study finding that most imported olive oils were mislabeled.
• UC Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Cooperative Extension provides research-based best practices for olive growers. The AgMonitor service provider, a COOC member, uses algorithms based on UC Cooperative Extension research for irrigation scheduling.
• Buy California Marketing Agreement / California GrowncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe COOC is a member of the Buy California Marketing Agreement. As a membership benefit, producers may use the CA GROWN servicemark (license plate logo) on their packaging for 100% California grown olive oil.
• Eurofins UScoreTechnology or IntegrationEurofins provides COOC Seal Certification required testing including AOCS and IOC approved sensory analysis. Testing is available through locations in Salinas, CA and New Orleans, LA.
• Baker Wine & Grape AnalysiscoreTechnology or IntegrationApproved lab providing chemical analysis for COOC Seal Certification. Collaborates with Applied Sensory to provide both chemical and sensory analysis for extra virgin certification since 2002.
• Applied SensorycoreTechnology or IntegrationApproved lab providing EVOO certification services including Sensory Analysis with a trained AOCS-recognized panel of tasters. Offers EVOO Certification Seal and bundles chemical and sensory analysis with Baker Wine & Grape Analysis.
• American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe COOC Sensory Panel received First Place Recognition from AOCS in October 2016, validating the quality of the COOC's sensory evaluation standards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Olive Council (IOC): Intergovernmental organization that sets global standards for olive oil grading (including 'extra virgin') and chemical/sensory testing methods. A far larger incumbent that defines the underlying standards COOC's Seal program references.
• Specialty Food Association: Large U.S. trade association for the specialty food industry that runs trade shows (e.g., Fancy Food Show), educational programs, and awards. A broader incumbent in food trade association work where COOC members and Seal-certified oils are also represented.
• American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS): Global scientific society that develops official analytical methods (including the AOCS-approved sensory protocols COOC uses) and recognized the COOC Sensory Panel in 2016. Comparable in standards-setting and member-certification function, though across all oils and fats.

Direct peers

• Buy California Marketing Agreement / California Grown: State agricultural marketing organization of which COOC is a member, allowing producers to apply the CA GROWN servicemark to packaging. Operates in the same 'California-origin verification' space and shares marketing/advocacy functions.
• North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA): U.S.-based trade association representing olive oil importers, marketers, and distributors. Operates its own quality seal program and consumer education efforts, making it the most direct counterpart to COOC — although NAOOA's membership represents imports rather than California-grown production.
• American Olive Oil Producers Association: U.S. trade association representing domestic olive oil producers. Operates as a national counterpart to the California-specific COOC, with overlapping membership of California growers and broader multi-state producer advocacy.
• Olive Oil Commission of California: California state-established commission that conducts mandatory grading and chemical testing on California olive oil under CDFA oversight. A peer organization focused on the same California EVOO category, with regulatory rather than voluntary industry-membership scope.

Emerging players

• UC Davis Olive Center: University-affiliated research and education unit that conducts the influential studies on olive oil quality (including the 2011 mislabeling report). A core strategic partner of COOC that overlaps in education, research, and industry advocacy roles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/californiaevoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaOliveOilCouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/californiaevoo
• Xx.com/cooccertified
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-olive-oil-council-evoo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California Olive Oil Council