Maria was born in Salento; she lives between Busto Arsizio, Rome and Sanremo.

She has a managerial career in the Public Administration for 28 years, in a Municipality and in a Ministry.

Maria works Free Lance, as a Journalist, PR, Communicator, Writer, and Event Organization. She has written books in teams and individually, and edited several texts and volumes.

She is a member of ONAOO and has become a professional oil taster.

She is also a chocolate taster on the Lindt panel.

For six years she has been in the olive sector, as a producer, taster, communicator, event organization.

I developed my passion and took my first steps into the extraordinary world of extra virgin olive oil in an olive grove in Sicily many years ago.

This incredible experience led me in 2008 to want to create my own import and wholesale distribution company called ‘Lugano Fine Foods’, whose main goal was, and still is, to bring consumers a new awareness and appreciation for high quality extra-virgin olive oil, but above all by providing informative guidance and training on how to select and taste an extra-virgin olive oil, unlike most other exporters.

My business provides many high-end food and gourmet shops in the greater Toronto area, southern Ontario, Calgary and Vancouver.

As part of my efforts to educate consumers, I regularly collaborate with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and ICE offices in Toronto to promote quality olive oils through food events in collaboration with Italy. I have worked with chefs and wine importers, preparing special tasting evenings involving the pairing of food, extra virgin olive oil and wine.

In addition, I regularly provide advice through demonstrations and training courses held in our flagship partner shops where a wide variety of imported oils are available. I have been in contact with ONAOO since 2013, when I passed the first level course. In 2018, I completed my Level 2 course and became a professional taster.

Sandro Marques is a lecturer on Food Studies and author of several books, including “The Guide to Brazilian Olive Oil”, in its third edition.

As an olive oil taster and writer, Sandro helps olive oil producers develop their storytelling and brand narrative.

He worked as an apprentice at several starred restaurants in Brazil and since 2010 has been a judge at the most important Brazilian food and culinary awards. In 2018 his book “Desserts for Princesses” was chosen by the Brazilian Federal Education Bureau to be distributed nationwide because of its educational content.

He also wrote “What do the astronauts eat?”, a children’s book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Mission. Sandro Marques is an international speaker and a judge at several olive oil competitions. In 2016 he became Member of ONAOO where he also started his educational path.

In 2020 he concluded his studies by obtaining the Qualification of ONAOO Professional Taster.

Elise lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. After a three-year educational path, from 2018 Elise is an ONAOO Professional Taster.

Her passion for olive oil began in 2011 during an investigation into the quality of olive oil in local supermarkets.

Her research resulted in a question: is the olive oil found on the shelves really extra virgin? Elise is also a traveller, gourmet and self-taught cook; loves to educate others on how to find superior quality extra virgin olive oils, especially in regions where traditional olive oil is not produced.