Tunisia, Spain, and Italy continue to dominate the quality podium for extra virgin olive oils worldwide, according to the results of the 24th edition of the Mario Solinas Quality Awards – Northern Hemisphere competition, organized by the International Olive Council (IOC)
The awards ceremony for the renowned Mario Solinas Quality Awards took place at the Caja de Música Auditorium in Madrid’s Cibeles Palace on Tuesday June 25, 2024, as part of the 119th session of the IOC Council of Members.
- On the occasion of the 24th edition of the Mario Solinas Quality Awards for Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality (Northern Hemisphere), the IOC signed a collaboration agreement with Madrid Salud to disseminate knowledge of olive oil quality.
In the Robust green fruitiness category, the gold medal went to Aziende Agricole di Martino from Trani (Italy). The first prize in the Medium green fruitiness category went to Accademia Olearia of Alghero (Italy).
The best Delicate green fruitiness olive oil of this edition came from the Tunisian oil mill Adonis, located in Slouguia. In the Ripe fruitiness category, the international jury – composed of heads of IOC-recognized tasting panels and chaired by Plácido Pascual – awarded the highest score to the oil presented by Domaine Fendri, in Sfax (Tunisia).
In the Small-scale producers and Packers categories, gold medals were awarded respectively to the La Loma de Canena oil mill (Spain) and Aceites Oro Bailén Galgón 99, Villanueva de la Reina (Spain).
Among the personalities who spoke at the ceremony were Jaime Lillo, Executive Director of the IOC since January 1, 2024, and the first Spanish Director since the establishment of this intergovernmental organization in 1959; Dr Mercedes Fernández Albaladejo, Head of the IOC’s Standardization and Research Unit; H.E. Mr Mohammad Mehdi Boroumandi, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of Iran (I.R.); Francisco Javier Hernández Martínez, General Coordinator of the Office of the Deputy Mayor of the City of Madrid; and H.E. Mrs. Fatma Omrani Chargui, Ambassador of Tunisia to Spain.
Multiple members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Madrid, as well as delegations and observers from all over the world attending the 119th session of the IOC Council of Members, also contributed to the success of the IOC’s Mario Solinas Quality Awards prize-giving ceremony.
THE IOC’S MARIO SOLINAS QUALITY AWARDS 2024
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
Convened in December 2023, the competition welcomed the participation of 113 extra virgin olive oils from 10 countries. Spain, once again, submitted the largest number of samples (57), followed by Tunisia (27), Portugal (15), Italy (4), Jordan (3), Greece (2), China (2), Algeria (1), Croatia (1) and France (1).
The members of the international jury selected the six oils with the highest scores in each category.
The Mario Solinas Quality Awards competition seeks to encourage the production of the highest quality olive oils.
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