Portugal secured nine awards, including five medals and four honorable mentions, during a ceremony today at the agricultural fair Ovibeja. The event, organized by ACOS — Associação de Agricultores do Sul in collaboration with Casa do Azeite, announced the winners and distributed prizes to competing olive oils.
Portuguese olive oils achieved victory in two out of five categories. In the Fruity Ripe category, Altas Quintas — Exploração Agrícola e Vinícola, SA, and 4C Azeites, Unipessoal, Lda won gold and silver medals, respectively.
In the same category, a bronze medal was awarded to an Israeli company, while honorable mentions were given to a Spanish olive oil and two Portuguese companies: Cooperativa de Olivicultores de Valpaços, Crl, and Vidcavea — Azeites da Vidigueira, Lda.
Portugal also dominated the Fruity Light category, securing gold (Nutrifarms II Olives, SA), silver (Agrícola S. Bartolomé SA), and bronze (4C Azeites, Unipessoal, Lda). The honorable mentions in this category were awarded to an Israeli company and the Portuguese firm Esporão, SA from Alentejo.
In the Fruity Medium Green category, a Portuguese olive oil earned one of the three honorable mentions (CARM — Casa Agrícola Reboredo Madeira), with the remaining mentions going to Spain. The top prizes in this category were awarded to Italy (gold and bronze) and Spain (silver).
The Fruity Intense Green category did not see any Portuguese winners, as Italy secured gold and Spain took silver and bronze, along with two honorable mentions. Croatia received the remaining honorable mention.
Finally, in the Southern Hemisphere olive oils category, Brazilian companies Essenza Agroecológica, Lda, and Vinícola Essenza clinched gold and silver medals, respectively.
Overall, the contest distinguished 25 olive oils, with Spain emerging as the second most awarded country with eight recognitions, comprising three medals and five honorable mentions. Italy received three honors, Brazil two, while Israel secured one medal and one honorable mention.
The jury, chaired by José Gouveia, convened on April 3 and 4 to evaluate the competing olive oils, as reported by ACOS.
This year, 93 samples were submitted by producers from Portugal, Germany, Israel, Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Croatia, and Brazil.
The 41st edition of the Ovibeja agricultural fair, which began on Wednesday in Beja at the city’s Exhibition Park, concludes on Sunday.
