Lucero Olive Oil strikes Gold
CORNING - For the second year in a row, a Corning olive oil company has struck gold with its product winning big at the California Olive Oil Council Competition in February, including another best of show.
"It's a huge honor to receive best of show two years in a row," said Dewey Lucero, owner of Lucero Olive Oil. "It just goes to show that California Olive Oils are up and coming and they are rivaling some of the best in the world. We're right up there."
In 2009, Lucero won best of show for its Ascolano olive oil, taking home two gold medals for Ascolano and Mission olive oils and four silvers for Frantoio, Sevillano, Mandarin and Arbequina at the competition.
For 2010, the company won best of show for its Meyer Lemon.
It also topped last year's medal count by taking home three golds for Meyer Lemon, Ascolano and Manzanillo and four silvers for Mandarin, Arbequina, Sevillano and Anthony's Blend, which is named for Dewey Lucero's grandfather.
"Winning solidifies us as being one of the leaders in the industry and shows we have great product and great olives being produced in Tehama County that are being recognized nationally," Lucero said.
The company will be in Disneyland starting April 16 for a wine and food festival that lasts through the end of May, Lucero said.
It will be going to the Napa Valley Mustard Festival this weekend in Sonoma, where Dewey Lucero will be doing an interview on the Martha Stewart radio show, which runs on Sirius Satellite radio.
Monday evening, Lucero reached a new level of fame as the company went international with an appearance on the show "Pitchin' In", hosted by Lynn Crawford on Food Network Canada.
For five days, three of which were spent filming with Dewey Lucero and various other members of his family, Crawford and a television crew learned about the process of making olive oil.
As part of her show, Crawford, a former chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York, likes to show where the products she uses come from, Lucero said.
The opportunity to be on the show happened after someone from the show stumbled across the company's Web site, www.lucerooliveoil.com, he said.
"It was unique," Lucero said. "Everything was right off the cuff. I've never been filmed liked that."
If the show does well, it could get picked up in the United States, but even if it does not Lucero said he may try to post the video on the company's Facebook page.
"Just for them to choose us was an honor," Lucero said. "It was exciting to tell our story and educate people on olive oil."
Lucero is the fourth generation of olive growers in Corning with many of the local olive trees having been planted by his maternal grandfather. His paternal grandfather was a part of bringing the first mechanical mill to California.
Previously employed as a mechanical engineer, Lucero said he started the company in 2005 after being laid off.
"It started out as wanting to put a label on the bottles (made for friends and family) and before I knew it I had a store and 10 employees," he said.
Originally, the company stored much of its olive oil down the street Lucero's parents' home, but within the last six months, the company has expanded into the rest of the building that houses its mill at 2120 Loleta Ave.
The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Tours are available during the production season, which runs September to December, Lucero said.
Lucero is sponsoring the inaugural event Black Butte Triathlon Series, from which the overall winner will take home the winner's weight in olive oil.
The triathlon will be held April 11 at Black Butte Lake in Orland.
Information and registration can be found at www.blackbuttetriathlon.com.
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Staff Writer Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115, or at jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com
Red Bluff Daily News | March 9th, 2010
We now have 4 olive oils and 3 balsamic vinegars available in Whole Food's SoMa location in San Francisco. Yum!
The first olive oil of the year has been produced, here is a picture of the "FRESH" oil pouring out of our new mill just last week...
Lucero takes home multiple medals!
GOLD: Ascolano - Tuscan Varietal
GOLD: Mandarin - Flavored Olive Oil
SILVER: Mission - Spanish Varietal
August 2009
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Lucero Olive Oil BEST OF CLASS, GOLD MEDAL Domestic / Mission Medium Corning SILVER MEDAL Other Citrus Delicate Mandarin Crush Corning BRONZE MEDAL Domestic / Sevillano Delicate Corning BRONZE MEDAL Domestic / Other Mono Cultivar Medium Frantoio Corning
Lucero Olive Oil wins big at Annual Yolo County Fair Olive Oil Competition
Lucero takes home 11 medals total, including "Best in Class" distinction – 4/20/09
Corning, CA -- Lucero Olive Oil was awarded with eleven medals in the Yolo County Fair Olive Oil Competition, taking home "Best of Class" honors for its Ascolano. This is the second set of wins for Lucero Olive in 2009, further establishing Lucero as a leader in the production of premium California extra virgin olive oils. One of the longest running competitions in California, this year's field consisted of 105 entries, with Lucero outpacing all others.
As the California Olive Oil industry continues to grow, so do the accolades for Lucero Olive Oil. With this latest round of recognition, the company boasts 51 medals since beginning production in 2006. With only two competitions so far in 2009, Lucero has been awarded 18 medals in total. Specifically, this is the second time that the Ascolano oil has been honored with the "Best of Class" distinction this year.
"Being recognized at any level is always gratifying, but the Yolo County Fair Olive Oil Competition awards hold special distinction. " said Dewey Lucero, president of Lucero Olive Oil. "Given the history of this competition and the fact that it has grown with the industry makes these awards especially meaningful. Once again, I am proud that Lucero Olive Oil is at the forefront of the growing California Olive Oil industry."
About Lucero Olive Oil
Lucero Olive Oil is a family-owned and operated business, producing super premium olive oils in Corning, California. Established in 2005, Lucero has grown rapidly, now producing over ten award-winning varieties of extra virgin olive oils as well as a very popular line of balsamic vinegars. The continued mission of Lucero Olive Oil is to produce gourmet olive oils that meet the highest standards of taste, quality ad nutritional value.
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Re-Cap Lucero Awards:
Yolo County Olive Oil Competition: 4/20/09
Ascolano - “Best of Class”
Ascolano - Gold
Arbequina - Gold
Manzanillo - Gold
Mission - Gold
Sevillano - Silver
Anthony’s Blend (Frantoio/Leccino) - Silver
Kalamata - Silver
Koroneiki - Silver
Lemon - Silver
Mandarin - Bronze
Total entries for this competition = 105
Entries came from producers all over California
Lucero Olive Oil wins "Best Of Show" at First Annual California Olive Oil Council Competition
Lucero Olive Oil honored with seven awards overall: awarded on 2/28/09
Corning, CA - March 2, 2009 - Lucero Olive Oil received top honors at the First Annual California Olive Oil Council Awards, receiving the top honor "Best of Show" for their Ascolano single variety Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The competition judged 106 of California's best olive oils. In total, Lucero was awarded seven medals - four silver, two gold and "Best Of Show".
With California Olive Oil accounting for nearly 99% of the olive oil production in the United States, these prestigious awards further establish Lucero Olive Oil as the premier producer of olive oil not only in California, but across the country. As the industry continues its rapid growth and expansion, Lucero Olive Oil has once again found itself at the top of an impressive field, leading the way with more gold medals (18 total) than any other California olive oil producer since 2006.
An industry leader from the first harvest in 2006, Lucero Olive Oil now has 40 medals honoring its product line. With a rich heritage and a passionate commitment to excellence, Lucero Olive Oil strives to produce the highest quality extra virgin olive oil. The continued success of Lucero Olive Oil, echoed in its numerous awards and accolades, is due to its ongoing commitment to growing, harvesting, milling, refining and bottling an ultra-fresh, superior product.
Projected growth of the California Olive Oil industry is estimated to more than triple its olive oil production over the next five years. Lucero Olive Oil is well-positioned to remain an industry leader for decades to come.
"The goal of Lucero Olive Oil has always been to take our family's years of experience and use that to create a superior product for our customers," said Dewey Lucero, owner, Lucero Olive Oil. "To receive the honor of Best in Show as well as the numerous other awards truly reaffirms the goals that we continue to work towards every day. As a whole, the California olive oil industry needs to continue pushing forward, producing world class olive oils, and strive to become world leaders in the industry. This is a very exciting time for all of us."
About Lucero Olive Oil
Lucero Olive Oil is a family-owned and operated business, producing super premium olive oils in Corning, California. Established in 2005, Lucero has grown rapidly, now producing over seven award-winning varieties of extra virgin olive oils as well as a very popular line of balsamic vinegars. The continued mission of Lucero Olive Oil is to produce gourmet olive oils that meet the highest standards of taste, quality ad nutritional value.
About the California Olive Oil Council
The California Olive Oil Council was founded in 1992. The COOC is a nonprofit trade and marketing association whose purpose is to promote the growing of olives, the production of extra virgin olive oil in California, and the seal certification process certifying California olive oils as 100% Extra Virgin. The COOC supports International certified olive oil standards and provides grower, producer and consumer education. Contact: pr@lucerooliveoil.com For news leads and inquiries
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Re-Cap Lucero Awards:
COOC Olive Oil Competition: 2/28/09
Ascolano - Best of Show
Ascolano - Gold Medal Winner
Mission - Gold Medal Winner
Arbequina - Silver Medal Winner
Frantoio - Silver Medal Winner
Sevillano - Silver Medal Winner
Mandarin Crushed - Silver Medal Winner
Total entries for this competition = 106
Entries came from producers all over California
