PASO ROBLES, CA: The Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, hosted annually by the California Mid-State Fair, is now accepting entries and online and by mail. The fourth annual competition will take place in July 2012 and will feature over 150 olive oils produced in California.

The overall goal of the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition is to provide a venue for California olive oils to be professionally judged and to educate consumers regarding the quantity and styles of olive oil produced in California. The 2011 competition featured over 100 entries, a 40% increase in entries from the 2010 competition. Competition staff expects to see an increase of this size again in 2012.

Olive oils are divided into extra virgin, flavored extra virgin, organic extra virgin, and flavored organic extra virgin olive oil and are separated into classes by varietal. The panel of competition judges evaluates each entry according to aroma, taste, and intensity ranging from delicate to robust.

Entries that earn medals will be showcased in Mission Square during the 2011 California Mid-State Fair. Entries for the competition can be found now at http://cmsfw.fairmanager.com/ and will be accepted online and by mail until Friday, May 25.