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The 9th EVO IOOC Italy concluded with an award ceremony on June 15th in the historic city theatre of Palmi, Calabria.
Antonio G. Lauro, president of the international olive oil contest, announced the winners of the Best in Show and Best in Country categories and the recipients of the special awards.
The event, co-hosted by the managing director, Stefania Reggio, saw the participation of producers, sector experts and olive oil enthusiasts, who enjoyed guided tastings of the winning products.
Nestled on the Violet Coast, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Palmi was also the setting for the sensory evaluations performed by the panel of judges at the CapoSperone Resort facilities in May.
See Also:Poets, Journalists, Researchers Awarded Literary PrizeTwenty-five experienced tasters from 11 countries assessed 671 entries submitted from 28 countries, including 592 extra virgin olive oils and 79 flavored olive oils.
Italy submitted the most entries and was the most awarded country, with 185 participating brands and 139 medals awarded. Turkey followed with 102 brands submitted and 77 medals.
The Brazilian producers participated with 69 brands, of which 63 received an award. Competing with 88 brands, Greece received 60 medals, followed by Spain, which participated with 56 brands and took home 38 medals.
The list of winners includes Portugal (23 medals), Israel (20 medals), Tunisia (19 medals), Argentina (11 medals), Croatia (nine medals), Jordan (five medals), Algeria (four medals), the United States, South Africa, Morocco (three medals each), Saudi Arabia, China, Lebanon (two medals each), France, Malta and Slovenia (one medal each).
“In recent times, evident and impactful changes mainly due to the consequences of climate change and global warming have occurred, posing complex challenges to farmers in the traditional olive growing countries,” Lauro told Olive Oil Times.
“On the other hand, we are also witnessing an increase in producing countries and new competitors who are vigorously entering the global high-quality market,” he added. “All this leads us to affirm that extra virgin olive oil no longer has borders or masters, but only excellent protagonists.”
The organizers revealed some data regarding the competing products during the award event.
Thirty percent of the entries were organic and came from a region with a certified geographical indication, including a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Over half (55.3 percent) of the extra virgin olive oils were blends of two or more varieties. Monovarietals comprised almost 45 percent of the total, representing more than 180 varieties.
Lauro also highlighted a recent novelty introduced by the contest: the collaboration with a leading research organization.
Last year, the management of the EVO IOOC Italy signed a preliminary collaboration agreement with the Center for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops of the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA-OFA).
Per the agreement, producers who register in the contest can participate in the research line ‘Traceability of the world’s extra virgin olive oils,’ the results of which will be published in international scientific publications.
“This is an extensive project concerning the characterization of the extra virgin olive oils based on the participatory research approach,” Lauro said. “We are pleased to be among the key players of this study, together with Enzo Perri, the director of CREA-OFA, and the olive oil companies.”
A list of results for the 2024 EVO IOOC Italy is available on the contest’s website and social media.
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