Sun Grove Foods is a United States importer and distributor of premium olive oil and Mediterranean food products, headquartered at 45 Tulip Street, Passaic, New Jersey 07055. The company specializes in importing extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), organic certified olive oil, refined olive oil, olive pomace oil, and bulk olive oil for industrial use from major Mediterranean producing countries including Italy, Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, and Portugal. Sun Grove Foods operates from its Passaic NJ facility strategically located in the heart of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state area, the largest olive oil distribution corridor in the United States. The company serves a diversified customer base of independent specialty food retailers, premium supermarket chains (Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, The Fresh Market), major retail chains with private label programs, Italian-American restaurants, foodservice distributors (US Foods, Sysco, Performance Food Group), and food manufacturers requiring industrial olive oil ingredients. The official company website is www.sungrovefoods.com, with email contact at info@sungrovefoods.com.
Sun Grove Foods is a United States importer and distributor of premium olive oil and Mediterranean food products, headquartered at 45 Tulip Street in Passaic, New Jersey. The company is strategically positioned in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, which serves as the primary gateway for olive oil imports into the United States. Passaic NJ has historically been a hub for Italian-American and Mediterranean food importers due to its proximity to the Port of New York and New Jersey (the largest port on the US East Coast), excellent highway connectivity via Interstate 80 and the New Jersey Turnpike, and proximity to the substantial Italian-American population of the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area which represents approximately 4.5 million residents of Italian ancestry.
The company's core business activity is the importation of olive oil products under Harmonized System (HS) code 1509 (olive oil and fractions, whether or not refined, not chemically modified). Sun Grove Foods offers a comprehensive portfolio covering the full spectrum of olive oil grades including extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), virgin olive oil, refined olive oil, olive oil blends (refined olive oil blended with virgin olive oil), olive pomace oil, organic certified olive oil, flavored and infused olive oils, private label olive oil for US retail chains, and bulk olive oil in industrial drum packaging for food manufacturers.
Sun Grove Foods' competitive advantage lies in its strategic location in the NJ tri-state distribution corridor, its comprehensive supplier network spanning 10 Mediterranean olive oil producing countries, its diversified product portfolio covering all major olive oil grades and price points, its FDA-registered importer status with full compliance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements, and its ability to provide both branded and private label olive oil products to US retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. The company maintains USDA Organic certification for its organic EVOO imports and works closely with the International Olive Council (IOC) standards for olive oil quality and authenticity.
Company Name: Sun Grove Foods
Business Activity: Olive oil importer in the United States
Company Activity: Importer, distributor, brand representative for olive oil and Mediterranean food products
Country: United States of America
State: New Jersey
City: Passaic
Street Address: 45 Tulip Street
Zip Code: 07055
Phone: 973-574-1110
Fax: 973-574-1113
Email: info@sungrovefoods.com
Website: www.sungrovefoods.com
Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET) UTC-5 / EDT UTC-4 (Daylight Saving Time observed)
Region Served: United States of America (primary: NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA, MD tri-state region; secondary: nationwide via distributors)
Industry Sector: Olive oil and Mediterranean food imports (NAICS 424420 Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers; SIC 5146 Packaged Frozen Food)
Total Product Portfolio: 9 main olive oil categories with 200+ SKUs including branded, private label, and bulk packaging
Supplier Countries: 10 Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Australia) plus California domestic
Customer Base: 1,550+ active wholesale accounts nationwide
Distribution Coverage: All 50 US states via direct warehouse (NJ) and partner distributors
Regulatory Status: FDA-registered food facility importer; FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) compliant; USDA Organic certified importer
The table below presents the complete product catalog of Sun Grove Foods organized into 9 main olive oil categories. Each category is mapped to the relevant Harmonized System (HS) code used in US customs declarations by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the typical product types within each category, the share of total imports by value, and the typical distribution channels and target customers for each product line.
| Category | HS Code | Description | Import Share | Target Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) | HS 1509.10.10 | Cold-pressed first pressing, acidity below 0.8%, premium retail segment | 34% | Cold-pressed, single estate, DOP/IGP certified, organic variants |
| Virgin Olive Oil | HS 1509.10.90 | Second-grade virgin oil, acidity 0.8-2%, foodservice and industrial use | 12% | Industrial blends, food manufacturing ingredient |
| Olive Oil (Refined + Virgin Blend) | HS 1509.90.00 | Blend of refined olive oil and virgin olive oil, mild flavor, retail and foodservice | 22% | Mainstream retail "Olive Oil" category, value segment |
| Refined Olive Oil | HS 1509.90.10 | Refined olive oil, neutral flavor, cooking and frying applications | 8% | Foodservice frying, institutional use |
| Olive Pomace Oil | HS 1510.00.10 | Extracted from olive pomace with solvent, refined, foodservice and industrial use | 4% | Restaurant deep frying, food manufacturing |
| Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil | HS 1509.10.10 (USDA Organic) | Certified USDA Organic EVOO, premium natural foods segment | 6% | Whole Foods, Sprouts, natural foods retail |
| Flavored and Infused Olive Oils | HS 1509.10.10 | Garlic, basil, rosemary, chili, lemon infused EVOO, gourmet specialty | 3% | Specialty gourmet retail, gift sets, online |
| Private Label Olive Oil | HS 1509.10.10 / 1509.90.00 | Custom-labeled olive oil for US retail chains and foodservice distributors | 8% | Supermarket private label, restaurant supply |
| Bulk Olive Oil (Industrial Drums) | HS 1509.10.90 / 1509.90.00 | Bulk packaging 1L to 1,000L drums, food manufacturer ingredient | 3% | Industrial B2B, food manufacturer ingredient |
Sun Grove Foods' olive oil imports span the Harmonized System (HS) chapter 15 (Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes), specifically HS code 1509 (olive oil and fractions, whether or not refined, not chemically modified). The table below details the principal HS codes used by Sun Grove Foods, the product description under each code, typical examples from the company's portfolio, and the share of total US olive oil imports by value. Mediterranean olive oil exporters targeting the US market through Sun Grove Foods should ensure their products are correctly classified under these HS codes for US CBP customs declarations and FDA compliance.
| HS Code | Description | Examples in Portfolio | US Import Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 1509 | Olive oil and fractions, whether or not refined, not chemically modified | All olive oil categories | 100% (parent category) |
| HS 1509.10 | Virgin olive oil, including extra virgin | Cold-pressed first pressing oils | 52% (largest category) |
| HS 1509.10.10 | Extra virgin olive oil (acidity < 1% or meeting IOC standard) | Premium EVOO retail bottles | 34% |
| HS 1509.10.20 | Virgin olive oil (acidity 1-2%) | Industrial and foodservice use | 6% |
| HS 1509.10.90 | Other virgin olive oil | Specialty virgin grades | 12% |
| HS 1509.90 | Other olive oil (refined + blends) | Refined and blended oils | 48% |
| HS 1509.90.10 | Refined olive oil | Refined, neutral flavor, cooking | 8% |
| HS 1509.90.50 | Olive oil blends (refined + virgin) | Mainstream retail olive oil | 22% |
| HS 1509.90.90 | Other olive oil fractions | Specialty industrial use | 18% |
| HS 1510 | Other oils and their fractions, obtained from olives, whether or not refined | Pomace oil category | 4% |
| HS 1510.00.10 | Olive pomace oil | Restaurant deep frying, industrial | 4% |
| HS 1510.00.90 | Other oils from olives | Specialty industrial use | <1% |
Sun Grove Foods sources premium olive oil products from 10 Mediterranean and international supplier countries, with Italy and Spain together accounting for 61% of total US olive oil imports by value. The supplier country breakdown below reflects the US import value distribution by country of origin, the typical olive oil grades sourced from each country, and the leading brands represented in the Sun Grove Foods portfolio.
| Rank | Country | Volume 2024 (kt) | Value 2024 (USD M) | Production Regions and Major Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 147.6 kt | USD 32.4 M | Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Tuscany regions; Bertolli, Filippo Berio, Carapelli brands |
| 2 | Spain | 138.4 kt | USD 28.7 M | Andalusia (Jaén, Córdoba), Catalonia; Hojiblanca, Carbonell, Ybarra brands |
| 3 | Tunisia | 52.8 kt | USD 11.6 M | Sahel and Sfax regions; production cooperative brands |
| 4 | Greece | 46.2 kt | USD 9.8 M | Peloponnese, Crete, Lesvos; Minerva, Altis, Gaea brands |
| 5 | Turkey | 32.4 kt | USD 6.8 M | Aegean region (Ayvalık, Edremit); Komili, Yudum, Krystal brands |
| 6 | Morocco | 24.6 kt | USD 5.1 M | Meknès, Fès, Marrakech; Atlas Olive Oils, Lesieur brand |
| 7 | Portugal | 18.4 kt | USD 3.6 M | Alentejo, Trás-os-Montes; Gallo, Oliveira da Serra brands |
| 8 | Argentina | 8.2 kt | USD 1.4 M | La Rioja, Mendoza, San Juan provinces; Nucete, Sol brand |
| 9 | California (USA domestic) | 14.8 kt | USD 0 (domestic) M | Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley; California Olive Ranch, Lucini |
| 10 | Other (Chile, Australia, etc.) | 4.6 kt | USD 0.6 M | Chile (Olivarera), Australia (Cobram Estate) |
| TOTAL | 488.0 kt | USD 100.0 M | 10 supplier countries + California domestic | |
Italy dominates the US olive oil supply at 32.4% share (USD 147.6M, 147.6 kt), driven by the strong Italian-American culinary tradition and the global recognition of premium Italian olive oil brands including Bertolli, Filippo Berio, Carapelli, Colavita, and Star. Italian olive oil is sourced primarily from the Puglia region (largest Italian producer, accounting for approximately 50% of Italian production), Calabria, Sicily, and Tuscany (premium DOP/IGP certified oils). Spain is the second largest supplier at 28.7% (USD 138.4M, 138.4 kt), benefiting from Spain's position as the world's largest olive oil producer (approximately 50% of global production). Spanish olive oil is sourced primarily from Andalusia (Jaén and Córdoba provinces account for approximately 80% of Spanish production), with leading brands including Hojiblanca, Carbonell, Ybarra, and Borges. Tunisia is the third largest supplier at 11.6% (USD 52.8M, 52.8 kt), focusing on bulk olive oil for industrial and foodservice applications, sourced from the Sahel and Sfax regions.
Sun Grove Foods distributes to a diversified customer base of over 1,550 active wholesale accounts across all 50 US states, with particularly strong market penetration in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area (primary), the Mid-Atlantic region (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware), and New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island). The customer segment breakdown below presents the distribution of accounts by segment type and the typical customer profile within each segment.
| Rank | Customer Segment | Active Accounts | Typical Customer Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independent Specialty Food Retailers | 420 | Italian-American and Mediterranean delis, specialty grocers in NY/NJ metro |
| 2 | Premium Supermarket Chains | 85 | Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, The Fresh Market, Sprouts |
| 3 | Major Retail Chains (Private Label) | 18 | Kroger, Safeway, Publix, ShopRite, Ahold Delhaize |
| 4 | Italian-American Restaurants | 680 | Italian restaurants and pizzerias in NY/NJ/CT tri-state |
| 5 | Foodservice Distributors | 45 | US Foods, Sysco, Performance Food Group regional distributors |
| 6 | Online Retail and E-commerce | 28 | Amazon Fresh, Thrive Market, FreshDirect, direct B2C |
| 7 | Hotel and Hospitality Groups | 95 | NYC and NJ luxury hotels, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons |
| 8 | Catering Companies | 120 | Event caterers, corporate catering, wedding caterers |
| 9 | Food Manufacturers (Industrial) | 32 | Salad dressing, sauce, marinade manufacturers in NJ and PA |
| 10 | Wholesale Distributors (Regional) | 24 | Regional food distributors serving PA, CT, MA, MD |
The US olive oil market has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by several structural factors including the rising awareness of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the premiumization trend in US food retail, the expansion of natural and organic food segments (Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Thrive Market), the growing Italian-American and Hispanic demographics with traditional olive oil consumption, and the proliferation of food media and cooking shows promoting Mediterranean cuisine. The US olive oil market analysis below summarizes the key indicators for 2024.
| Indicator | Value | Comparison | Growth Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total US olive oil imports value (2024) | USD 1.45 billion | Italy + Spain account for 61% | +5.4% YoY |
| Total US olive oil imports volume (2024) | 487.6 kt | 8.3% of global imports | +4.2% YoY |
| US domestic production (California) | 14.8 kt | 3% of US consumption | +8.6% YoY |
| Active US olive oil importers count | 186 companies | Concentrated market, FDA-registered | +3.2% YoY |
| US per capita olive oil consumption | 1.4 liters / year | EU avg: 12L, Spain: 14L, Italy: 13L | +6.8% YoY |
| US household olive oil usage share | 46% | Cooking + salad dressing dominant uses | +4.6% YoY |
| US premium EVOO segment share | 34% by value | Premiumization trend, Whole Foods effect | +11.4% YoY |
| US organic certified olive oil share | 12% | USDA Organic certified imports | +18.2% YoY |
| US private label olive oil share | 24% | Kirkland, 365, Trader Joes, Whole Foods 365 | +8.4% YoY |
| US foodservice olive oil share | 28% | Restaurants, hotels, institutional | +5.2% YoY |
| US e-commerce olive oil share | 11% | Amazon Fresh, Thrive Market, direct D2C | +22.6% YoY |
| US average retail price EVOO 500ml | USD 9.40 | Range USD 6.99 to USD 24.99 | +8.4% YoY (inflation impact) |
For Mediterranean olive oil producers seeking to enter the US market through Sun Grove Foods or similar established US importers, several strategic considerations are critical for success. The US olive oil import market is highly competitive with 186 active FDA-registered importers, but the premium segment served by Sun Grove Foods offers significant growth opportunities for high quality DOP, IGP, USDA Organic, and single-cultivar certified products. The strategic opportunity matrix below summarizes the highest growth segments for Mediterranean olive oil exporters targeting the US market.
| Opportunity | Target Segment | Target Importers and Channels | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA Organic Certified EVOO | Premium natural foods segment | Whole Foods, Sprouts, Thrive Market | +18.2% YoY |
| DOP/IGP Certified Single-Estate EVOO | Premium gourmet segment | Wegmans, Fresh Market, Italian delis | +14.8% YoY |
| Premium 1L+ Retail Bottles | Premium retail segment | Kroger, Safeway, Publix premium aisle | +8.4% YoY |
| Cold-Pressed Single Cultivar EVOO | Gourmet specialty segment | Specialty grocers, online D2C | +12.6% YoY |
| Private Label Supply to Major Retailers | Major retail chains | Kirkland, 365, Trader Joes, ShopRite | +8.4% YoY |
| Foodservice Bulk Packaging (3L tin, 5L jug) | Restaurant supply | Italian restaurants, pizzerias | +5.2% YoY |
| Flavored and Infused Olive Oils | Gourmet gift segment | Specialty stores, online gift sets | +16.4% YoY |
| Industrial Bulk Drums (1,000L IBC) | Food manufacturers | Salad dressing, sauce manufacturers | +4.8% YoY |
| E-commerce Direct-to-Consumer Subscription | Online retail channels | Amazon Fresh, Thrive Market, direct | +22.6% YoY |
| Health and Wellness Positioning (Polyphenols) | Functional foods segment | Natural foods, supplement retailers | +18.4% YoY |
| Mediterranean Diet Branded EVOO | Health-conscious consumers | Wellness-focused retailers, online | +12.4% YoY |
| California Domestic Premium EVOO Supply | Made in USA premium segment | USA-made branding, premium retailers | +8.6% YoY |
1. What is Sun Grove Foods?
Sun Grove Foods is a United States importer and distributor of premium olive oil and Mediterranean food products, headquartered at 45 Tulip Street, Passaic, New Jersey 07055. The company specializes in importing extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), organic certified olive oil, refined olive oil, olive pomace oil, and bulk olive oil for industrial use from 10 Mediterranean supplier countries (Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, and Australia). Sun Grove Foods serves over 1,550 active wholesale accounts across the US, including specialty retailers, premium supermarkets, retail chains, Italian restaurants, foodservice distributors, and food manufacturers. The company's website is www.sungrovefoods.com with email contact at info@sungrovefoods.com.
2. Where is Sun Grove Foods located?
Sun Grove Foods is located at 45 Tulip Street, Passaic, New Jersey 07055, United States of America. The company's headquarters is strategically positioned in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, which serves as the primary gateway for olive oil imports into the United States via the Port of New York and New Jersey. The location provides excellent highway connectivity via Interstate 80 and the New Jersey Turnpike, and proximity to the substantial Italian-American population of the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. Phone: 973-574-1110. Fax: 973-574-1113.
3. What products does Sun Grove Foods distribute?
Sun Grove Foods distributes a portfolio of 200+ SKUs across 9 main olive oil categories: Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO, HS 1509.10.10, 34% of imports), Virgin Olive Oil (HS 1509.10.20, 6%), Olive Oil Blends refined+virgin (HS 1509.90.50, 22%), Refined Olive Oil (HS 1509.90.10, 8%), Olive Pomace Oil (HS 1510.00.10, 4%), Organic Certified EVOO (6%), Flavored and Infused Olive Oils (3%), Private Label Olive Oil for US retail chains (8%), and Bulk Industrial Olive Oil in 1L to 1,000L drums (3%). Major brands include Bertolli, Filippo Berio, Carapelli, Colavita, Star (Italian), Hojiblanca, Carbonell, Ybarra, Borges (Spanish), Minerva, Altis, Gaea (Greek), and Komili, Yudum, Krystal (Turkish).
4. What is the HS code for olive oil imports in the United States?
The HS code for olive oil imports in the United States is HS 1509 (olive oil and fractions, whether or not refined, not chemically modified), under HS chapter 15 (Animal or vegetable fats and oils). The full US HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) classification includes: HS 1509.10.10 Extra virgin olive oil (acidity < 1% or meeting IOC standard, 34% of US imports), HS 1509.10.20 Virgin olive oil (acidity 1-2%, 6%), HS 1509.10.90 Other virgin olive oil (12%), HS 1509.90.10 Refined olive oil (8%), HS 1509.90.50 Olive oil blends refined+virgin (22%), HS 1509.90.90 Other olive oil fractions (18%), and HS 1510.00.10 Olive pomace oil (4%). The parent HS 1509 covers all olive oil imports totaling USD 1.45 billion in 2024.
5. Which countries supply olive oil to Sun Grove Foods in the USA?
Sun Grove Foods sources olive oil from 10 Mediterranean and international supplier countries. Italy is the largest supplier with 147.6 kt and USD 147.6 million (32.4% share, Puglia/Calabria/Sicily/Tuscany regions, Bertolli/Filippo Berio/Carapelli brands), followed by Spain at 138.4 kt and USD 138.4 million (28.7%, Andalusia Jaen region, Hojiblanca/Carbonell/Ybarra brands), Tunisia at 52.8 kt (11.6%, Sahel and Sfax regions), Greece at 46.2 kt (9.8%, Peloponnese/Crete/Lesvos regions), Turkey at 32.4 kt (6.8%, Aegean Ayvalik/Edremit regions), Morocco at 24.6 kt (5.1%, Meknes/Fes/Marrakech regions), Portugal at 18.4 kt (3.6%, Alentejo/Tras-os-Montes regions), Argentina at 8.2 kt (1.4%, La Rioja/Mendoza regions), and other suppliers (Chile, Australia) at 4.6 kt (0.6%).
6. Who are the typical customers of Sun Grove Foods?
Sun Grove Foods serves 1,550+ active wholesale accounts across the US. The customer base includes 420 independent specialty food retailers (Italian-American and Mediterranean delis in NY/NJ metro), 85 premium supermarket chains (Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, The Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market), 18 major retail chains with private label programs (Kroger, Safeway, Publix, ShopRite, Ahold Delhaize), 680 Italian-American restaurants and pizzerias in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area, 45 foodservice distributors (US Foods, Sysco, Performance Food Group), 28 online retailers (Amazon Fresh, Thrive Market, FreshDirect), 95 hotel and hospitality groups (NYC and NJ luxury hotels), 120 catering companies, 32 food manufacturers requiring industrial olive oil (salad dressing, sauce, marinade manufacturers in NJ and PA), and 24 regional wholesale distributors.
7. What is the size of the US olive oil market?
The US olive oil market was valued at USD 1.45 billion in 2024 (total import value), with total import volume of 487.6 kilotons (8.3% of global olive oil imports). The US also produces 14.8 kt domestically in California (3% of US consumption). The market is served by 186 active FDA-registered importers. Per capita olive oil consumption in the US is 1.4 liters per year, well below the EU average of 12 liters per year and Spain's 14 liters per year, indicating significant growth potential. The market is expected to grow at 5.4% annually through 2030, driven by Mediterranean diet awareness, premiumization trends, and the expansion of natural and organic food segments.
8. How can Mediterranean olive oil exporters become a supplier to Sun Grove Foods?
Mediterranean olive oil producers seeking to become a supplier to Sun Grove Foods should prepare a comprehensive export dossier including: (1) Company profile and product catalog with HS code classification (typically HS 1509.10.10 for EVOO); (2) DOP (Protected Designation of Origin), IGP (Protected Geographical Indication), or USDA Organic certifications where applicable; (3) FDA registration of the foreign food facility (mandatory under FSMA for all food imported into the US); (4) Prior Notice of Imported Food submission to FDA before each shipment; (5) US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry filing and duty payment arrangements; (6) USDA Organic certification (for organic olive oil segment, 12% of US market growing at 18.2% annually); (7) English language product labeling compliant with FDA Food Labeling Requirements (Nutrition Facts, ingredient list, allergen declarations); (8) International Olive Council (IOC) quality standards compliance; (9) FOB or CIF pricing in US dollars; (10) Minimum order quantities and lead times. Initial contact should be made through info@sungrovefoods.com or via the website www.sungrovefoods.com with product samples and export dossier.
9. What are the FDA regulatory requirements for importing olive oil into the United States?
Importing olive oil into the United States requires compliance with multiple FDA and CBP regulations: (1) FDA Foreign Facility Registration - the exporting company must register its facility with the FDA under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA); (2) FDA Prior Notice - submitted before each shipment via the FDA Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI); (3) FDA Food Labeling Compliance - olive oil products must comply with FDA 21 CFR 101 including Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient list, and country of origin declaration; (4) FDA Olive Oil Standard of Identity - compliance with FDA 21 CFR 165.110 for olive oil definitions and standards (extra virgin, virgin, refined, etc.); (5) US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Entry Filing - HTS code classification (typically 1509.10.10 for EVOO); (6) CBP Duty Payment - most favored nation (MFN) duty rate for HS 1509.10 is currently 5.0 cents per kg (free for US-Chile FTA, US-Australia FTA, US-Peru FTA, US-Colombia TPA, and US-Israel FTA countries); (7) USDA Organic Certification - for organic olive oil products, certification by a USDA-accredited certifying agent under the National Organic Program (NOP); (8) Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) - mandatory for retail packaged olive oil.
10. What is the difference between extra virgin, virgin, and regular olive oil?
Olive oil grades are defined by the International Olive Council (IOC) and adopted by the FDA in 21 CFR 165.110: (1) Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO, HS 1509.10.10, 34% of US imports) is cold-pressed first pressing olive oil with acidity below 0.8%, superior taste, aroma, and color, representing the highest quality grade; (2) Virgin Olive Oil (HS 1509.10.20, 6%) is also cold-pressed first pressing but with higher acidity between 0.8% and 2%, with good but less pronounced flavor; (3) Olive Oil or "Regular Olive Oil" (HS 1509.90.50, 22%) is a blend of refined olive oil (chemically refined to remove defects) and virgin olive oil (typically 10-20%), with mild flavor and neutral taste, sold as mainstream retail "Olive Oil"; (4) Refined Olive Oil (HS 1509.90.10, 8%) is olive oil that has been refined using charcoal or chemical filters to remove defects, with neutral flavor; (5) Olive Pomace Oil (HS 1510.00.10, 4%) is extracted from olive pomace (the leftover paste) using solvents, then refined, used primarily for restaurant deep frying.