Lemoore’s Boparai Farms Frantoio 8/9 olive oil shared the win for the Best of the Valley award with Lodi’s Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno Oil, in this year’s 5th annual Valley Olive Oil competition put on by The Big Fresno Fair. Image via Boparai Farms

Central Valley olive oil makers were among the top winners at the 5th annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil competition.

They were among the 38 entries from 10 California producers in the competition put on by The Big Fresno Fair.

While no Central Valley olive oil makers were awarded best in show, Lemoore’s Boparai Farms shared the Best of the Valley award — a new category — for its Frantoio 8/9 oil with Lodi’s Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno Oil.

Gold and silver medals were awarded for extra virgin and flavored olive oils.

Here are the Central Valley medalists:

Extra virgin olive oils

Gold medal winners

Boparai Farms’ Frantoio 8/9 (Lemoore)

Rosenthal Olive Ranch’s Koroneiki (Madera)

Olivaia Olivaia’s Ola Estate Sevillano (Lindsay)

Silver medal winners

Olivaia Olivaia’s Ola Block X Blend (Lindsay)

Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Bold (Clovis)

Flavored olive oils

Gold medal winner

Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Fresno Chili (Clovis)

Silver medal winner

Enzo Olive Oil Company’s Basil Crush (Clovis)

 “Despite an olive shortage for the 2018 harvest, we could not be more pleased with the showing of these amazing olive oil producers and excited to add a new one to the mix,” Stacy Rianda, deputy manager for the The Big Fresno Fair, said in a press release. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to showcase these incredible California-produced olive oils through this competition.”

 Gold medal and best of show winners each will have an opportunity to have a booth to show and sell their oils in the Wells Fargo Agriculture Building during one weekend day at the 2019 fair or have a booth at the Fair’s 2nd annual Fall Wine Festival on October 12.

“Additionally, educational information will be set up so that fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits, recipes and more,” the release states.

For more details on the competition and to see a complete list of winners, visit fresnofair.com/sjv-olive-oil-competition.