North American Olive Oil Association to Highlight Quality, Certification, and Industry Education with “Ask the Expert” Sessions at Winter FancyFaire

San Diego, CA — January 2026 — The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) will attend the Specialty Food Association’s Winter FancyFaire, January 11–13 in San Diego to showcase its olive oil seal programs, engage with food industry professionals, and recruit new members. NAOOA can be found at Booth #1346.

At a time when the industry is consolidating and evolving, the NAOOA is committed to olive oil education and to helping buyers navigate the market. At Winter FancyFaire, NAOOA will raise awareness of three seal programs designed to protect olive oil quality and authenticity across retail, specialty, and foodservice channels: NAOOA Certified, the Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA), and a new Foodservice & Bulk program currently in development.

“From retail shelves to foodservice kitchens, olive oil buyers face increasing complexity,” said NAOOA executive director Joseph R. Profaci. “Our seal programs and educational initiatives are designed to reduce risk, protect integrity, and give buyers and operators confidence in the olive oils they source.”

“Ask the Experts” Sessions

In addition to its booth presence, NAOOA will host two Ask the Experts group sessions at Winter FancyFaire. Registration is available on the WFF app and seating is limited to six attendees per session.

Sunday Jan. 11 at 11:30 AM — Protecting Quality in Foodservice & Bulk Olive Oil
Have questions about sourcing olive oil in bulk? This interactive session will cover best practices for protecting quality at scale and give attendees the opportunity to ask industry experts about risk management, documentation, and authenticity in foodservice and bulk formats.

Monday Jan. 12 at 2:00 PM — Olive Oil Media Workshop: Separating Fact from Fiction
Confused by olive oil myths and misinformation? Bring your toughest questions to two leading experts for a fact-based discussion designed to clarify common misconceptions and provide clear, science-driven answers.

NAOOA Seal Programs

• NAOOA Certified
  The NAOOA conducts the nation’s largest and most comprehensive olive oil certification program. Oils purchased off-the-shelf from supermarkets are tested multiple times per year for adherence to the physico-chemical standards set by the International Olive Council (IOC) for both purity and quality.

• Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA)
  EVA is the NAOOA section that showcases what makes extra virgin olive oils special. EVA certification means oils meet rigorous quality requirements, as well as production and packaging specifications. In addition, the EVA “+Factors” recognize best practices across three categories: The Oil, The Land, and The People. These factors include farming practices, environmental stewardship, production methods, transparency, social responsibility, and community engagement.
• Foodservice & Bulk (In Development)
  To help operators, buyers, and distributors assure authenticity, NAOOA is developing a new certification program focused on foodservice and bulk olive oil supply chains to address competitive pressures, scale and pricing challenges, and to improve transparency. 

About the North American Olive Oil Association

The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), founded in 1989, is a trade association committed to ensuring olive oil authenticity, quality, and integrity through industry leadership and education.  The NAOOA’s more than sixty producer, importer and marketer members account for nearly two-thirds of the olive oil sold in North America.

For more information, visit Booth #1346 at Winter FancyFaire or learn more about NAOOA membership and seal programs at www.aboutoliveoil.org.