With just two weeks to go until olive oil takes center stage at the Crossroads of the World, organizers of the New York International Olive Oil Competition say the third edition of the annual event is shaping up to be the best yet.
Despite one of the most challenging harvest seasons in recent memory in many regions, especially southern Italy, 671 olive oils will compete for the coveted Gold, Silver and Best in Class awards and to be among the best olive oils in the world, as the winners of the yearly contest are known.
Entries from Italy are down by about one-third, confirmed NYIOOC president Curtis Cord, but entries are up for almost every other country. Now more than ever, Cord said, producers of high-quality olive oil need to distinguish their brands.
“We have been investing in innovative ways to get NYIOOC winners the attention and commercial successes they deserve” Cord said. “These are the true stars of the food world, and they need to be recognized and rewarded for their talent, dedication and the extraordinary product they provide for us.”
At the same time, people are confused about olive oil and they want to know where to find brands they can trust to deliver the quality they pay for. That’s why retailers, distributors, chefs and consumers throughout the world use the list of NYIOOC winners as a buying guide.
A press conference announcing the results of the competition will be broadcast live at 6:00 PM (22:00 UTC) on April 15th through the NYIOOC website and syndicated through international media channels.
The announcement of the results will cap an all-day conference at the International Culinary Center (ICC) in New York’s Soho neighborhood which will explore the “cultural context of olive oil and predictions for its future.” Speakers at the conference will include the fashion designer Norma Kamali, Lionsgate Entertainment founder and philanthropist Frank Giustra, Oldways president Sara Baer-Sinnott, ICC founder Dorothy Cann-Hamilton, Boundary Bend CEO Rob McGavin, chefs Paul Bartolotta and María José San Román, and many others.
A few remaining tickets to the event are still available on the event website.
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