SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 7. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Maxorata cheese spread with paprika, made from semi-cured pasteurized goat’s milk, from the Protected Designation of Origin Queso Majorero, from the company Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura SL, has become the best cheese in the Canary Islands 2022 in the Official Agrocanarias Contest organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canarian Institute of Agrifood Quality (ICCA).
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alicia Vanoostende, together with the director of the Canarian Institute of Agrifood Quality (ICCA), José Basilio Pérez, announced today Thursday the award-winning cheeses in this edition in which a total of 190 samples and 65 dairies, becoming the edition with the largest number of participating dairies.
As for the jury’s special distinctions, the Best Image and Presentation went to the Naturteno brand, in the form of semi-cured raw smoked goat’s milk from Tenerife. That of the Children’s Jury, Best Popular Cheese of the Canary Islands 2022 and Silver Medal for the Quesos Madrelagua brand, mixed cheese, made of semi-cured pasteurized milk, from the company Quesos Caseros de Valleseco SL, from Gran Canaria.
The distinction of Best Limited Production Cheese 2022 and Great Gold Medal went to the 5Senti2 Celaje brand, in the mixed semi-cured raw milk modality, from Tenerife.
In this edition, the island of El Hierro has received a gold medal; Fuerteventura, 6 medals and a distinction; Gran Canaria, 20 medals and 2 distinctions; La Gomera, 2 medals; Lanzarote, 4 medals; La Palma, 12 medals; and Tenerife, 3 medals and 2 distinctions.
During her speech, the Minister highlighted “the success in terms of the participation of dairies in a contest that enhances the quality of these productions that are increasingly recognized and valued in the market.”
Alicia Vanoostende pointed out that the livestock sector “is a priority for this Ministry, even more so, with the impact of a global crisis that brings with it the increase in animal feed prices that affects the profitability of livestock farms. Given this situation complex, we must join forces, from production to distribution, with the determined support of the Government of the Canary Islands, which has paid more than 17 million since January to compensate for the extra costs”.
The regional head of the area added that these measures “are not enough, so from the regional government we continue to work and fight to have more aid, either through the modification of the POSEI, the PDR or specific aid of the temporary framework of Ukraine to deal with this crisis as a result of the war”.
“Thanks to all the cheese factories in the Canary Islands that have participated in the contest, the ICCA technical team and the tasters,” he concluded.
For his part, the director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez, highlighted the importance of the Agrocanarias Contest “to enhance the potential of Canarian cheeses and their richness, pondering the gastronomic treasure and the production and livestock activity that exists in our archipelago. Our cheeses are unique, the result of the combination of a livestock herd made up of native breeds, the use of modern and artisanal techniques, and the wisdom of our master cheesemakers.”
