American Olive Oil Producers Association

What American Olive Oil Producers Association does

The American Olive Oil Producers Association (AOOPA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 2012 and headquartered in Clovis, California, that represents and advocates for U.S. olive oil producers and four member state associations (California, Florida, Georgia, Texas). Its core functional offerings are policy advocacy (including a 2022 joint FDA citizen petition for first-ever U.S. olive oil standards, filed with NAOOA and Deoleo), grant administration (Healthy Soils Program Grant up to $200,000 per applicant, Pollinator Habitat Grant Program running May 2023 through December 2026 in partnership with Chico State CRARS), educational resources (Olive Oil 101 consumer guide, a resources library with UC Davis and University of Georgia publications), and industry events (The Olive Oil Conference, co-hosted in 2025 with COOC and OOCC). The association is governed by a Board with representatives from major U.S. producers including California Olive Ranch, Enzo Olive Oil Company, Cobram Estate (Boundary Bend Olives), Bari Olive Oil Company, Texana Olive Ranch, Corto Olive Company, and others, and is led by President & CEO Kimberly Houlding and Chairman Jim Lipman.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and AOOPA operates with 1-10 employees out of a single Clovis office at 2565 Alluvial Avenue #152. Its funding profile centers on member dues, pass-through grant programs, and a $2 million cooperative agreement awarded in March 2025 by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service under the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative to run a four-year study of olive oil across seven producing states (CA, AZ, TX, GA, FL, OR, HI) in partnership with UC Davis, University of Georgia, and Modern Olives Laboratory. AOOPA was a leading proponent in the California Legislature for the creation of the Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC) in 2013, and is a founding member association of the World Olive Oil Trade Group (WOOTG) established in 2016, giving it cross-border trade reach into roughly 78 NAOOA member companies and global producers such as Deoleo.

Name

American Olive Oil Producers Association

Legal name

American Olive Oil Producers Association

Website

https://aoopa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The American Olive Oil Producers Association is a nonprofit trade association founded in 2012 that advocates for U.S. olive oil producers and four state associations, administering grant programs, education resources, and an annual conference, and pursuing federal olive oil standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Olive Oil Production & Bottling (AFAKAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Olive Groves (Olives for Oil & Table) (AFAGACAG)

Keywords

• Olive oil advocacy
• Trade association
• Industry standards development
• Agricultural grant programs
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Clovis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AOOPA represents and advocates for U.S. olive oil producers and state associations, advancing fair trade rules, market access, and quality standards through policy advocacy (FDA standards petition, USDA engagement), grant administration for sustainable farming, annual industry conferences, and educational resources. The organization serves as the unified voice of American olive oil producers in regulatory and trade matters.

Product overview

American Olive Oil Producers Association (AOOPA) is an industry association founded in 2012 that serves as the unified voice for American olive oil producers. Rather than a single software product, AOOPA offers a portfolio of programs including grant programs (Healthy Soils Program and Pollinator Habitat Grant Program to support sustainable olive farming), educational resources (Olive Oil 101 consumer guide and a resource library with industry reports), and annual conferences (The Olive Oil Conference co-hosted with COOC and OOCC). AOOPA also engages in policy advocacy to establish FDA olive oil standards and represents the industry on trade panels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthy Soils Program Grant Financial grant program administered by AOOPA providing incentives to California olive oil producers for implementing conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve soil health. Maximum award of $200,000 per applicant.
• Pollinator Habitat Grant Program Grant program administered in partnership with Chico State Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) that advances pollinator-friendly practices to restore habitats in key olive growing regions across Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Grant period runs May 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026, with free technical assistance provided to applicants.
• The Olive Oil Conference Annual industry conference featuring the latest trends, research, and challenges in the olive oil industry, co-hosted with the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) and Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC). Brings together U.S. olive oil producers and industry vendors.
• FDA Olive Oil Standards Petition (Advocacy Initiative) Policy advocacy initiative led by AOOPA, jointly with NAOOA and Deoleo, petitioning the FDA to adopt enforceable, science-based olive oil standards with clear definitions for extra virgin, virgin, and olive oil grades. If approved, would mark the first time the federal government adopts mandatory regulations for olive oil.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 million gallons annual US consumption - largest market outside EU
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and member association.

• University of California, DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025UC Davis is one of three global experts partnering with AOOPA for the four-year USDA-funded study of US olive oil. The partnership focuses on collection, testing, and compilation of crop data across seven olive oil producing states. UC Davis Olive Center is a recognized authority in olive oil research.
• University of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025University of Georgia is partnering with AOOPA as one of three global experts for the four-year USDA-funded study of US olive oil, contributing to the collection, testing, and compilation of olive oil data from across the United States.
• Modern Olives LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025Modern Olives laboratory serves as one of three global experts partnering with AOOPA for the four-year USDA-funded study of US olive oil, providing testing and data compilation expertise for the unprecedented industry-wide study.
• California Olive Oil Council (COOC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025COOC is co-hosting The Olive Oil Conference 2025 with AOOPA, marking the first time AOOPA has co-hosted a conference with COOC and the Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC). This collaborative event brings together US olive oil producers and industry vendors.
• Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025OOCC is co-hosting The Olive Oil Conference 2025 with AOOPA and COOC. AOOPA was a leading proponent for OOCC's creation in the California Legislature in 2013, and OOCC adopted the world's most rigorous government olive oil testing and labeling standards in 2014.
• Chico State Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024CRARS serves as Technical Assistance Provider for AOOPA's Healthy Soils Grant and Pollinator Habitat Grant Program, providing free technical support to California olive oil producers implementing eligible conservation practices. The center hosts application cafe hours and provides consultation throughout the grant process.
• North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2022NAOOA joined AOOPA and Deoleo in submitting a joint citizen petition to FDA for first-ever US olive oil standards. NAOOA, established in 1989, is a trade association of 78 companies interested in olive oil marketing in the US, including producers, packagers, importers, laboratories, and export associations from 11 countries.
• DeoleocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2022Deoleo, the world's largest olive oil producer, partnered with AOOPA and NAOOA in submitting joint citizen petition to FDA for enforceable, science-based olive oil standards. Deoleo has leading global brands including Bertolli (best-selling in US), Carapelli, Carbonell, Hojiblanca, and Koipe, with presence in more than 60 countries.
• World Olive Oil Trade Group (WOOTG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016AOOPA is a founding member association of the World Olive Oil Trade Group (WOOTG), established in 2016. WOOTG provides member countries a forum to share ideas and information about the growing global olive oil industry and promote a barrier-free global market.
• Florida Olive Councilmember associationOthersFlorida Olive Council is a member association of AOOPA, dedicated to promoting research, cultivation and marketing of olive trees and olive products with high standards of environmental sustainability and academic/business ethics.
• Georgia Olive Growers Associationmember associationOthersGeorgia Olive Growers Association is a member association of AOOPA, promoting, encouraging and educating others about olive tree growing and olive oil production in Georgia.
• Texas Association of Olive Oilmember associationOthersTexas Association of Olive Oil (TXAOO) is a member association of AOOPA, supporting, promoting, and defending the growing, harvesting, processing, marketing and sale of Texas olive oil.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA): Trade association of 78 companies involved in olive oil marketing in the US, including producers, packagers, importers, and laboratories from 11 countries. Directly comparable as a peer trade body that jointly petitioned FDA with AOOPA.
• California Olive Oil Council (COOC): California-based olive oil trade association and co-host of The Olive Oil Conference 2025 with AOOPA. Closely comparable as a state-level olive oil industry association focused on quality certification and education.
• Olive Oil Commission of California (OOCC): State-created commission that AOOPA was instrumental in establishing; co-hosts The Olive Oil Conference. Comparable as a peer body enforcing olive oil grading and labeling standards under California Department of Food and Agriculture oversight.
• Florida Olive Council: Member association of AOOPA dedicated to research, cultivation, and marketing of olives in Florida. Comparable as a state-level peer olive oil association with shared sustainability and academic focus.
• Georgia Olive Growers Association: AOOPA member association supporting olive tree growing and olive oil production in Georgia. Comparable as a state-level peer association under the AOOPA umbrella.
• Texas Association of Olive Oil: AOOPA member association supporting growing, harvesting, processing, and marketing of Texas olive oil. Comparable as a state-level peer trade body for olive oil producers.

Broad incumbents

• Deoleo: World's largest olive oil producer, owner of Bertolli, Carapelli, Carbonell, and Hojiblanca. Comparable as a coalition partner of AOOPA in the FDA petition effort and a dominant commercial player shaping the global olive oil category.
• California Olive Ranch: Largest US-grown olive oil brand and AOOPA board member company. Comparable as a US olive oil producer at scale whose interests AOOPA represents in advocacy and standards work.

Emerging players

• World Olive Oil Trade Group (WOOTG): International trade group of which AOOPA is a founding member, focused on barrier-free global olive oil markets. Comparable as a peer international coordination body representing producing-country trade associations.
• Cobram Estate Olives (Boundary Bend Olives): Vertically integrated olive oil producer with US operations represented on AOOPA's board. Comparable as a leading commercial olive oil producer that benefits from AOOPA's regulatory and trade advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanOliveOil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/americanoliveoilproducersassociation

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 American Olive Oil Producers Association