SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, June 20. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The H10 Taburiente Playa hotel, in Breña Baja (La Palma), today hosted the presentation of the XXI edition of the Official Agrocanarias Cheese Contest 2022, in which a total of 190 samples and 65 dairies compete, becoming the edition with the highest number of participating dairies
The contest has been organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canarian Institute of Agrifood Quality (ICCA).
This regional contest had 51 samples and 18 dairies from La Palma; 7 samples and 4 cheese factories from El Hierro; 32 samples and 10 cheese factories from Fuerteventura; 49 samples and 16 cheese factories from Gran Canaria; 3 samples and 2 cheese factories from La Gomera; 21 samples and 5 cheese factories from Lanzarote; and 27 samples and 10 cheese factories from Tenerife.
The opening ceremony was attended by the director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez, who highlighted the importance of enhancing a cheese sector “which has been specializing and professionalizing until reaching exceptional levels of quality”.
The jury is made up of a committee of experts of 24 tasters made up of technicians, responsible for the restoration and hospitality of the Canary Islands (HORECA), and gastronomic journalists, among others.
As for the different categories, the Grand Gold Medal, Gold Medal and Silver Medal will be awarded. The cheese that has obtained the highest score in the tasting panel will receive the distinction of ‘Best Cheese of the Canary Islands’. The ‘Best Ecological Cheese of the Canary Islands’ will also be awarded with distinction; ‘Best Limited Production Cheese of the Canary Islands’; ‘Best Image and Presentation’; ‘Best Popular Cheese of the Canary Islands’, and ‘Children’s Jury’.
The director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez, made it clear that this contest “allows the Ministry to go hand in hand with the sector to help improve Canarian cheeses on the market.” “Dairy is one of the most important subsectors in our economy, which is why this contest seeks to improve the profitability of producers through the promotion of products of differentiated quality, fresh and local,” he explained.
