Glossary of Bulk Oil Terms

A process where oil passes through a filter to remove any cloudy sediment remaining in the oil (sediment is made up of olive particles).  The filtering process produces a clearer oil, and can be done either once or even twice in the manufacturing facility. 

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A term used to describe oil that comes from the first squeezing, spinning or pressing of the olives.  It specifically refers to “pressing” which is a traditional processing system no longer consistently used in modern production.  The olive paste is more commonly spun in a centrifuge in modern systems, so this term should actually be “first spin”.

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A shipping term that refers to the cost of transporting one pallet to a particular location.  A “flat pallet” rate means that the cost to ship the pallet is the same, no matter the amount of total goods stacked on that pallet.  For example, a flat pallet rate of $100 means that it would cost the same amount whether you put 1 drum or 4 drums on that pallet.

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Olive oil that has been flavored with an alcohol-based flavor extract, not to be confused with infused olive oil.  Centra Foods doesn’t carry this type of oil at this time. 

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A container of olive oil that is comprised of a removal bladder inside a conventional shipping container.  This bladder has a built in valve, that a pump can connect to, to remove the oil.  The amount of olive oil put into this container is flexible, hense the name.  At it’s maximum, it holds approximately 42,000 lbs or 6,000 gallons.  These flexitanks save a lot of money over the totes and drums by removing packaging and domestic LTL shipping costs.  

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An acronym for “freight on board” or “free on board” depending on who you ask. This term indicates who pays the transportation costs. An item that is priced at a particular FOB point (usually a city, state and zip code) indicates the cost of that item at that location. This is also is the point where a buyer takes responsibility for an item.

For example, if an item is priced, FOB Kent, WA 98032, the cost of that item reflects the price of the product at Centra Foods’ warehouse in Kent, WA not including any additional shipping costs.

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Shipping that utilizes large 18-wheeler truck to move bulk quantities of a product (versus being shipped in the mail using UPS, Fed Ex, or USPS). 

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A generic brand is a brand that is not heavily advertised or known.  Sometimes this term is used to refer to a specific private label brand.  In the olive oil distribution realm, customers often ask for a ‘generic brand’, meaning that they will accept any brand that is in inventory.  

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A substance present in cereal grains, esp. wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. A mixture of two proteins, it causes illness in people with celiac disease.  Olive oil is naturally gluten free. 

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A lack of gluten present in a product or substance.  Olive oil is naturally gluten free.  

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