Casa de Case is the exclusive U.S. importer of the organic olive oils from Francesco De Padova in Italy. This oil is the winner of the prestigious Gold Medal in the category of Classic Italian Blends from the Olive Oils of the World competition at the Los Angeles County Fair. In Italy when something is certified organic, it is called biologico, and the certification requirements are very, very strict. Produced entirely from their 1,000 acre estate in the D.O.P. zone Terra d’Otranto in sun-drenched and beautiful Puglia, the olives for this oil are grown with only vegetable and organic fertilizers, and there are no pesticides or chemicals used on their estate. All steps of the production are strictly controlled and certified by AIAB, the Italian Association of Organic Farming. Olives are hand picked and cold pressed within 12 hours, retaining maximum polyphenols, the anti-oxidants that keep the oil fresh longer, and are key to the good health benefits of olive oil.