SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 8th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty of the Canary Islands’ Government, under the Canarian Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), has issued a Resolution inviting entries for the Official Agrocanarias Cheese Competition 2024. This initiative aims to boost the island’s cheese productions, with a particular focus on those crafted under different quality protection categories.
The deadline for submission is 27th May 2024 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to apply, please visit the ICCA website through this link: https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agp/icca/ or the regional Executive’s online portal: https://sede.gobiernodecanarias.org/sede/anuncios/0939dec5-943a-42ee-b8aa-df27b3c5b616.
The competition features various cheese categories based on the milk type used (pasteurized or raw), livestock species (goat, cow, sheep, and mixed), maturation stages (young, semi-cured, cured, old, and aged), coagulation method (vegetable rennet or a blend of vegetable rennet and others), and mold development during maturation (internal or surface).
The competition rules state that individuals or businesses producing, preparing, and packaging any of the aforementioned cheese types in the archipelago can participate, provided they adhere to current sector legislation and regulations. Additionally, the entries must be available in the market under their own commercial branding.
The minimum sample weight for submission is two kilograms. For samples below this weight, multiple whole or partial units can be presented to meet the requirement. The cheeses must be packed in containers ensuring proper preservation. Multiple samples can be presented in the same package as long as they are clearly identified. The delivery date and location will be communicated to each participating dairy via email and/or phone.
The contest will be conducted through blind taste testing. An expert panel of approximately twenty tasters specialized in agri-food product analysis will evaluate the entries without knowledge of their origin. Based on their assessments, productions will be awarded Great Gold, Gold, and Silver Medals, along with special accolades such as “Best Cheese in the Canary Islands”, “Best Organic Cheese in the Canary Islands”, “Best Limited Production Cheese of the Canary Islands”, “Best Image and Presentation”, “Best Popular Canary Islands Cheese”, and “Best Cheese chosen by the Children’s Jury” for 2024.
The “Best Cheese in the Canary Islands” will be highlighted on the organization’s website and shared with various general and specialized media outlets focusing on agriculture and gastronomy. Award-winning producers will be permitted to display the official badge for a year and take part in events organized by ICCA for promotion. Additionally, participating dairies will have their registration and logistics expenses covered for the annual Gourmets Cheese Championship in Madrid.
