A new competition in Turkey aims to raise the bar for local producers and improve collaboration within the olive sector.
A new national olive oil competition was held for the first time in Turkey recently with awards being handed out to winners during a ceremony on April 28, 2017.
The IOC Mario Solinas Turkey Quality Award Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition was presented by the National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK) under the auspices of the International Olive Council (IOC). The aim of the competition is to raise the bar in Turkey with regard to infrastructure and ultimately oil quality, while increasing collaboration with public and non-governmental organizations, universities and the private sector.
Samples were accepted for submission to the competition until March 10, after which a technical committee made up of university professors examined the entries to see if they complied with competition rules. Twenty-one olive oils were accepted for entry into the competition and judged by a jury made up of eight panel members recognized by the IOC on March 20 – 21, 2017.
At an award ceremony held at the 7th Olivtech Olive, Olive Oil and Technologies Fair on April 28, 2017, gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the winning producers, as well as three honorable mentions for each category (intense, medium, and ripe and mild Fruitiness). Presiding the ceremony was Abdellatif Ghedira, executive director of the IOC.
Turkey was a member of the IOC from 1962 until 1998 when the Turkish Government decided to withdraw its membership. In September 2016 it once again signed up to be a member.
The Turkish National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK) was established in 2007 to address problems encountered by those working in the olive sector. The organization aims to bring the Turkish olive sector in line with international standards and increase production, while building links between producers, industrialists, and the domestic and foreign markets. It also strives to be a bridge between the government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and universities.
According to data provided by the National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK), the number of olive trees in Turkey has risen to 170 million in the past decade. Olive oil production for the 2016/2017 season is expected to reach approximately 177,365 metric tons, a 29 percent increase compared to last year. Last year Turkey was the second largest producer of olive oil after the European Union, and is expected to keep this position for 2016/2017 (according to IOC figures).
Gold Medal Winners
Intense Fruitiness – Zetay – Zetay Tarım Hayvancılık Imalat Sanayive Ticaret
Medium Fruitiness – Olivurla – Turla Tarım Gıda Ltd.
Ripe and Mild Fruitiness – Pirgion – Ahmet Çakıroğlu Eka Zeytinyağı Ve Gıda İmalatı Ticareti
Silver Medal Winners
Intense Fruitiness – Tuay –Turgut Anadolu Yatırım Ltd
Medium Fruitiness – Seroliva – Oliva Gida San. Tic. Ltd
Ripeand Mild Fruitiness – Selme – Ömer Faruk Kantarci Hlf.A. Selim Kantarci
Bronze Medals Winners
Intense Fruitiness – Kristal – Ticaret Ve Sanayi Kontuvari
Medium Fruitiness – Cömert – Cmrt Zeytinyaği San. Tic. Ltd.
Ripe and Mild Fruitiness – Onursel – Onursel Zeytincilik
Honorable Mentions
Intense Fruitiness – Gülcü – Gülcü Zeytinyaği Sanayi Ticaret Koll.
Medium Fruitiness – Nova Vera –Nova Vera Gıda Ve Tarım Tic.Ltd.
Ripe and Mild Fruitiness – Revnak – Garanti Zeytinve Zeytinyaği Ltd.
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