Olive oil producers in Madrid received Protected Designation of Origin certification from the European Union earlier this month.
After four years of work by local officials, qualifying producers can begin to label their extra virgin olive oil with the official PDO certificate starting April 24th.
“We have achieved something good by showing the European Union that this is a real project with a future that respects the environment,” said Rafael Gómez, the president of the PDO.
See Also:Researchers Use AI to Identify EVOO Provenance“Now, when people buy this olive oil, they are going to know it’s of good quality, with some of its own characteristics and with a respectful production process,” he added.
In the autonomous community of Madrid, there are about 4,500 growers, 18 mills and over 20,000 hectares of olive groves, producing between 3.7 and 6.0 million liters of olive oil annually.
The main cultivation areas are in Campiña, Suroccidental and Las Vegas regions, southeast of the capital.
‘Aceite de Madrid’ PDO oils will be produced primarily from Manzanilla, Castellana and Cornicabra olives. “This is what allows us to obtain sensory profiles that make this oil unique,” said Esther Alonso, the director of the PDO.
Gómez added that Madrid PDO extra virgin olive oil is spicy, green and bitter. He said it has a potent aroma as well.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, congratulated the farmers and organizers who sent in the PDO application and lobbied Brussels for its inclusion in the E.U.’s Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications.
“The Madrid countryside is in luck,” she tweeted. “The European Union certifies the Denomination of Origin of Madrid olive oil. Thanks to the farmers, mills and the entire oil sector. Together we have made it possible.”
Spain boasts 32 extra virgin olive oils with a Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication status.
The producers behind the Aceite Villuercas Ibores Jara in Extremadura, which applied for PDO status in February 2022, will hope they are next in line to become Spain’s 33rd olive oil with protected status.
Related Articles
Apr. 3, 2024
Nurseries in Spain Are Running Low on Olive Tree Seedlings
High olive oil prices at origin, interest from private equity and farmers seeking to shift away from more water-intensive crops are fueling the shortages.
Jul. 20, 2024
Umbria Blazes the Trail of Year-Round Oleotourism
Traditionally confined to the harvest season, producers, restaurateurs and tourism officials in Umbria are working to turn extra virgin olive oil into a year-round attraction.
Jan. 3, 2024
Europe Grants PDO Status to Turkey's Çizik Zeytini Table Olives
Turkey now has E.U.-protected status for three table olive varieties while awaiting Protected Designation of Origin certification for another three.
Jun. 12, 2024
Deoleo North America CEO Says Sustainability is Key to Growing Olive Oil Sector
Thierry Moyroud views Deoleo as guardians of the industry, prioritizing quality production and sustainable practices above all else.
Jun. 25, 2024
Spanish Households Purchase More Sunflower Oil Than Olive Oil for the First Time
Falling olive oil sales are linked to reduced production and elevated prices, whereas sunflower oil has become more affordable during the same timeframe.
Nov. 15, 2024
Spanish Table Olive Sector on Edge After Trump Election Win
Spain's black table olive producers, already reeling from tariffs imposed during the first Trump administration, fear more are on the horizon.
Nov. 4, 2024
Italy Mints Special Labels for Its PDO and PGI Olive Oils
The Italian Polygraphic Institute and State Mint craft the labels to guarantee the traceability of extra virgin olive oils with geographical indications.
Dec. 2, 2024
Labor Shortage Cripples Spanish Olive Harvest
Table olive producers are struggling with a shortage of workers, which is compounded by concerns about increasing foreign competition and the possibility of higher tariffs.