PROFILE:

Paul Vossen is an Emeritus Extension Agent, Farm Advisor, who retired in 2016 after 36 years

working as a researcher and educator with the University of California. He has an M.S. degree

in Tree Crops Production from UC Davis, a Certificate in Olive Oil Production from the

University of Córdoba, Spain; Panel Head Certificate from the International Olive Council

(IOC); and a Certificate in Marketing from UC Berkeley. His primary expertise is in the areas of

tree fruit, berry, and specialty vegetable culture; pest control; and marketing of farm products.

He helps farmers with the evaluation of their land, production costs, selection of appropriate

specialty crops, cultural practices, pest control, and selling their products.

His olive research focused on efficient fruit harvest for small-scale growers, olive fruit fly

control, organic cultural practices, comparison of different mill equipment types, comparing oil

cultivars growing in different climatic regions of California, the productive potential of the

super-high-density and medium-density oil olive production systems, and the influence of tree

irrigation on olive oil sensory qualities. Over the years, he coordinated many California Olive Oil

Production Short Courses and taught several Olive Oil Sensory Evaluation Courses in the US

and internationally to train producers, consumers, and marketers, about high-quality olive oil.

He was a founder of the California Olive Oil Council (COOC), UC Davis Olive Center, and he

developed the first olive oil taste panel in the USA to become recognized by the IOC. Paul was

the founding taste panel leader for the UC/COOC Taste Panel and the UCCE Olive Oil Taste

Panel in Santa Rosa, CA. He currently serves as an olive oil judge and has been competition

chairman for several USA and international competitions.