10 Tips for Authentic Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Find the Right Supplier and Avoid Fraud

Looking for the Best Olive Oil Supplier? Here's How to Select Yours Wisely!

?? Italian extra virgin olive oil is famous for its quality and unique flavor, making it a top choice for foodies and chefs worldwide. The success of Italian olive oil is attributed to its heritage of biodiversity, with 533 varieties of olives grown for a total of 250 million trees, resulting in 42 PDOs and 7 PGIs, as well as dozens of 0-km productions. The market is also growing thanks to organic farming, which has seen cultivated areas more than double (+110%) in the last 10 years.

With growing demand, fraudulent activities have increased, making it challenging for foreign buyers to ensure they're getting the real deal. In this article, we'll provide 10 tips to help foreign buyers find authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil and avoid fraud.

1. Check the label: Look for labels specifying where the oil was produced with a specific oil mill and the harvest date. Oils with an organic label must also specify the location of production.
2. Confirm the oil mill exists: Even when Italian oil is labeled, it can be fraudulent. Detected fraud includes labeling bottles with producers that don't exist or addresses in towns and cities that don't exist.
3. Buy from trusted sources: Establishing relationships with trusted suppliers and producers is crucial in ensuring the authenticity of the product.
4. Visit the supplier's facilities: Visiting the supplier's facilities can help you verify their authenticity and assess their production methods.
5. Check for certifications: Some Italian olive oils will be labeled with PDO, Protected Designation of Origin, or PGI, Protected Geographical Indication. These terms are defined and overseen by the European Union to protect locally produced agricultural products.
6. Avoid oils without a specific point of production: Bottle labels that specify where the oil was produced with a specific oil mill are more likely to be genuine.
7. Prefer darker bottles: Darker bottles help protect the oil from sunlight, which can cause olive oil to degrade in quality.
8. Check for a harvest date: Look for a harvest date on the label to ensure you are purchasing fresh oil.
9. Be wary of oils with added flavors: Added flavors, sometime, can be a sign of low-quality oil.
10. Be wary of cheap oil: If oil prices are too good to be true, it's probably an imposter.

By following these 10 tips, foreign buyers can increase their chances of purchasing authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil from the right supplier and avoid fraud.??

Good luck with your research!??