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There has been a lot of talk since CBS\u2019s 60 Minutes<\/i> exploration of how the Italian olive oil business, among other foods, has been corrupted by the Italian Mafia or \u201cAgromafia.\u201d Eater<\/i> then covered the same story a few days later, sharing the CBS segment here<\/span><\/a> on their site.<\/i> The issue is so widespread that it has resulted in an estimated $16 billion\/year fraud. Reports also estimated as much as 80% of imported oils and 10% of domestic oils sampled from grocery shelves in the U.S. do not meet the international standards that define the title \u201cextra virgin.\u201d These adulterated olive oils are often being\u00a0mixed with oils from all over the world, or in some cases a different oil all together, such as soybean\u00a0oil.<\/p>\n What Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil?<\/b><\/p>\n Extra Virgin Olive Oil is mechanically pressed, rather than being produced by chemical means, and must have an acidity level of no more than 0.8%. These oils are also \u201ccold pressed,\u201d meaning the temperature never rises past 81.9 \u00b0F<\/span>. These oils are fragile by nature; exposure to high temperatures and even light can lead to their deterioration. All the olives in a bottle of EVOO should come from the same region of Italy and from the same type of olive. The taste of a designated extra virgin olive oil should have a superior flavor and aroma. It\u2019s generally recommended that EVOO be used as a finishing oil in salad dressings, drizzled on top of sauces, or used as a bread dip. You can also finish off your favorite dishes with a tablespoon of EVOO.<\/p>\n Why Does it Matter?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n As consumers, we deserve to know what goes into our food. The adulteration of EVOO is an issue of integrity. While the adulteration may not be physically harmful thus far, you certainly have a right to know what you are paying for and what you are putting into your body. The quality and taste matters a great deal to the true artisan oil makers, who, like us at Carlino\u2019s, are giving their customers the real deal. The farmers\u2019 livelihoods depend on the year\u2019s harvest. They have dedicated their lives to the craft of olive growing and oil making, so when an outside source attempts to change the process to make a quick buck, that is a personal affront.<\/p>\n How do You Know if Your Olive Oil is Extra Virgin?<\/b><\/p>\n There was a recent article published by the New York Times<\/i><\/span><\/a> that outlines how oils from countries like Morocco and Tunisia are being passed off as EVOO from Italy. There are many sources online that can help you select which brand of EVOO is real, and you can rest assured that when you pick up a bottle of EVOO at Carlino\u2019s, it is 100% true, unadulterated olive oil. Be on the lookout for bottles that say \u201cImported from Italy\u201d or \u201cPacked in Italy,\u201d as these labels (though legal) can indicate that the olives were grown elsewhere and shipped to Italy before arriving in the U.S.<\/p>\n Best Solution – Get To Know Your Farmer\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n All reputable sources\u00a0suggest getting to know your farmer if you are buying domestic, or looking to buy from growers who bottle their oil directly for retail sale. This cuts out the middle man, which is where almost all olive oil adulteration happens. Distributors who purchase olive oil in bulk from hundreds of scattered farms before bottling are likely adulterating the oil.<\/p>\n Where does Carlino\u2019s Extra Virgin Olive Oil Come From? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Here at Carlino\u2019s, we have the luxury of knowing our farmer up close and personal because, at one point in time, we were the farmer. Carlino\u2019s olive oil is produced in Abruzzo, Italy and comes from the same farm Pat Carlino grew up on. His parents, Mama & Pop Carlino, had farmed this land for X<\/strong>\u00a0years before moving to the U.S. Pat can recall what the seasons and harvest were year after year – and the entire town would participate. Every family would help each farm gather their harvest. In the early years in Abruzzo, Mama and Pop\u2019s situation was tough. The area had been devastated from WWII and there was very little work. Seeking opportunities, the Carlinos applied for a visa to move their family to United States. This visa wouldn\u2019t come through for x years. By this point, things had turned around, and farming their land had proven fruitful for them. However, unsure what kind of opportunities would lie ahead for their children, they made the leap to the States. Pat remembers leaving so abruptly that they weren\u2019t even able to stay to help with that season\u2019s olive harvest. Instead, the extended Carlino family took over the land and have farmed it through present day.<\/p>\n In 1983, when the Carlinos began Carlino\u2019s Specialty Foods, they not only produced foods derived from Mama\u2019s own recipes, but imported products directly from the land they once lived on and farmed themselves. Other products they would import from farmers in their hometown that they knew and trusted with quality and integrity. The same family farms the Carlino\u2019s groves to this day, producing a true artisan organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a product that, according to reports, is now becoming a rarity. Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is sold in both our stores<\/a> and online<\/a>.<\/p>\n Is Your Olive Oil Compromised? Get to know Your Farmer.<\/b><\/p>\n With all the recent reports about the Italian Mafia corrupting EVOO – how do you know if your oil is real? Sources say the best way to know if what you are getting is the real deal is to get to know your farmer. Carlino\u2019s EVOO comes straight from our family\u2019s grove in Abruzzo, Italy and is cold pressed and bottled directly from the source. This process cuts out the middle man, leaving no room for adulteration or mixing of non-EVOO oils. We know exactly where our oil comes from, the region, the plants and whom is harvesting them. Our oil not only meets international standards but is 100% Organic with a low acidity level, superior taste, and aroma.<\/p>\n With all the recent speculation about the Italian Mafia – we think it\u2019s more important than ever to know your farmer and where your olive oil comes from.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There has been a lot of talk since CBS\u2019s 60 Minutes exploration of how the Italian olive oil business, among other foods, has been corrupted by the Italian Mafia or \u201cAgromafia.\u201d Eater then covered the same story a few days later, sharing the CBS segment here on their site. The issue is so widespread that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-specialty-foods-catering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Olive_Oil-7\"](\"http:\/\/www.carlinosmarket.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Olive_Oil-7.jpg\")
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