The sixth edition of the ‘Agrocanarias Extra Virgin Olive Oil Official Contest‘, organized by the Canarian Institute of Agrifood Quality (ICCA) has concluded with the Gold medal for the Arbequina-hojiblanca-picual oil of the ‘Teguerey’ brand, from Fuerteventura, produced by Luis Hernández Santana.
The headquarters of the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosted on Tuesday morning the reading of the jury’s decision by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Regional Executive, Alicia Vanoostende, and the director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez , who highlighted the high level of 21 oil samples belonging to 13 mills in Tenerife (3), Gran Canaria (3), La Palma (1), Fuerteventura (5) and El Hierro (1) submitted to the contest.
By categories, the silver medal went to the ‘Jade’ brand, of the picual variety, from Fuerteventura, made by Heras Patrimonial SL, while the gold medal went to the ‘Oleoteide’ brand of arbequina-arbosana-picual, from Tenerife, produced by Cumbres de Abona Cooperative Society.
In the special distinctions section, the best organic extra virgin olive oil from the Canary Islands 2022 It was obtained by the ‘Oro Canario’ brand, of the verdial variety, from Gran Canaria, produced by Rita Hernández Ramos.
The award for best image and presentation went to the Agroturismo la Gayria brand, from Fuerteventura, produced by Doramiba SL.
The regional manager of the area, Alicia Vanoostendehighlighted during his speech the work of the ICCA in the protection and promotion of differentiated quality products through ‘Agrocanarias’, in which he valued the work of producers in the field and oil mills.
Vanoostende pointed out that it is “a relatively recent crop and that it has had an important development in the last 15 years with the presence of oil mills in almost all the islands, obtaining an oil that adds much more value to primary productions.”
Thus, he said that it is expected that this year there will be an oil production of 70,000 liters, “a small quantity but of great value”, because it competes in quality.
For his part, the director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez, explained the details of the different phases and the great work carried out by the ICCA staff, the tasters, and the producers who participate in the contest.
“The importance and consolidation of Canarian extra virgin olive oil goes through the role of olive cultivation in the midlands of our islands, given that it is an opportunity to diversify agriculture and the economy, an agro-processing industry with a present and future is being created , both oil mills and olive packaging that generates economy and employment”Perez concluded.
