There were 15 days that involved the 25 international judges from 9 different countries in the evaluation, and the final act of the EVO IOOC competition has awarded and revealed to the world the excellence of EVOO products for this year 2020. Unusual and elegant the mobile TV studio chosen to host - in time of pandemic - the award ceremony. The motorhome, located in Piazza Municipio of the Municipality of Palmi, the political center of the Calabrian town immersed in the Costa Viola, has thus produced the event, already visible live on EVO IOOC's Facebook page.
"The fifth edition of EVO IOOC was, without a doubt, a different edition; more challenging, but in many ways rewarding - says Dr. Antonio G. Lauro, president of the competition. The organizational difficulties in the preparation of the event were matched by the support and encouragement of the companies involved in our project which has reached the milestone of its first five years. To all those who continue to believe in our work and encourage us to keep the commitment we have made, that is to say, the valorisation and promotion of EVOO and flavored EVOO, we have reserved some gifts. They have been made available for free to the winners 2020, the new stickers of EVO IOOC that can be placed on the packaging of EVOO and flavoured EVOO that have established themselves at 2020 EVO IOOC Italy. It is not a simple stickers - Lauro told - but a real seal of quality, which will allow to stimulate the commercial activity and promotion of extra virgin olive oils and condiments awarded at the competition”.
They have been made available for free to the winners 2020, the new stickers of EVO IOOC that can be placed on the bottle of EVOO and flavoured EVOO that have established themselves at 2020 EVO IOOC Italy.
2020 EVO IOOC reserves other surprises for the participating producers. A special Masterclass "Would you like to taste some EVOO with me?". Led by Dr Lauro, it will be held in Palmi, on July 31, 2020. Free event for producers entered in the competition.
In addition, the new edition of the EVO IOOC Guide Buyers Edition 2020/2021, defined by the organizers as a "picture summary of the products that have established themselves in the last edition of the contest, has also been announced. The guide of this year grows and becomes bilingual (Italian and English), to meet the many requests from readers".
During the award ceremony, live worldwide, the work and professionalism of the precious judges of EVO IOOC 2020, the real engine of the contest's complex organizational machine, was recalled - through the words of some judges in Skype connection from Japan, Greece, and Italy.
International judges Aida Lazzez (Tunisia), Birsen Can Pehlivan and Mehmet Özgü Manisali (Turkey), Ehud Soriano (Israel), Cristina Stribacu, Eleftheria Germanaki and Kostas Liris (Greece), Miciyo Yamada, Hiromi Nakamura and Nori Ogido (Japan) were cited, Na Xie (China), Javier Sànchez Pedròs, Juan Baseda Torruella, Mª Ángeles Calvo Fandos (Spain), Francisco Ataíde Pavão (Portugal), Roberto Marchesini, Indra Galbo, Simona Cognoli, Nicolangelo Marsicani and Vincenzo Melissari (Italy). And followed by the group of national judges (Lidia Viterale, Lucia Talotta, Antonio Maria Riggio, and Giuseppina Loria), all expert professional tasters, who evaluated and awarded the EVO oils and condiments in competition.
A look at the numbers.
The EVOOs and Flavoured EVOO in the competition were 491, with an increase of 13%. Oils entered from as many as 25 countries in the world, divided between the North and South Hemisphere.
Very rich the general medal stand, which has 405 medals awarded in the two types Gold and Silver. The Italian representative (179 entries), which is awarded 147 medals in total, is very rich, followed by Greece (66 entries and 55 awards), Spain (62 entries and a total of 50 medals, between Gold and Silver) and Turkey (61 entries and 54 medals in total).
To enrich and complete the EVO IOOC 2020 medals list, the awards awarded to Argentina (14), Azerbaijan (1), Belgium (4), Brazil (12), Canada (1), China (2), Croatia (4), France (1), Germany (4), Israel (2), Lebanon (5), Malta (1), Portugal (15), Slovenia (1), Tunisia (4), Uruguay (2) and the United States of America (26).
While, as far as the "Extra Virgin Olive Oil" section is concerned, 449 samples were received; of these, 42.7% were certified (DOP/IGP and Organic), with 12.5% DOP/IGP denominated EVO oils and 30.2% Organic EVOO. The seasonings based on extra virgin olive oil, variously flavoured, were 42.
Monovarietal EVOO accounted for 65.3% of the total, with about 140 varieties present, to tell the purest expressions and terroir of the world's olive territories. Moreover, the remaining part (34.7%) was made up of blends, or coupage, containing on average two/three different varieties of olives.
Among all the medals awarded by EVO IOOC 2020, the three Tunisian Gold Medals and the two Chinese ones are of high value, as well as the surprising - in the eyes of newcomers - "gold" recognition won with merit by Lebanon.
Also among the Silver Medals honor to Azerbaijan and Malta, as well as to the women of Israel, with products born in the context of a strong work of integration between the Arab and Israeli Community, directed by a non-profit organization formed exclusively by women.
Among all the oils in competition, three of the most sought-after trophies (Best in Class), classified by individual categories and hemisphere, went to the world's top Italian oil products from Calabria, Lazio, and Puglia.
Spain received two Best in Class, with the Southern Hemisphere dominated by Brazil (three Best in Class). Among the special prizes, to remember the Best of South America dedicated to the memory of Ràul C. Castellani, co-founder of the competition.
But here are the names of the winning companies of the many expected "Best in Class" of EVO IOOC Italy 2020:
EVO IOOC Best International Award North Hemisphere: Almazaras de la Subbetica. PARQUEOLIVA Serie Oro - DOP Priego de Cordoba (Spain)
EVO IOOC Best International Award South Hemisphere: Café Fazenda Sertãozinho LTDA. Azeite Orfeu - Blend da Safra (Brazil)
EVO IOOC Best International DOP/IGP 2020 - North Hemisphere SCA. Olivarera La Purísima. EL EMPIEDRO (DOP Priego de Córdoba) (Spain)
EVO IOOC Best International Organic 2020 - North Hemisphere: AZIENDA AGRICOLA ULIVETO SRL. "I GRANDI OLI SCISCI" PICHOLINE BIO (Italy)
EVO IOOC Best International Monovarietal 2020 - North Hemisphere: Az. Agr. Cosmo Di Russo. Caieta EVO (Italy)
EVO IOOC Best International Coupage 2020 - North Hemisphere: Azienda agricola sorelle Garzo. Dolciterre Rosi' (Italy)
EVO IOOC Best International Monovarietal 2020 - South Hemisphere: LAGAR H AGROINDUSTRIA LTDA. Lagar H Koroneiki (Brazil)
EVO IOOC Best International Coupage 2020 - South Hemisphere: Prosperato. Prosperato Premium Blend (Brazil)
Special Awards:
Best International Flavoured EVOO: Laconiko. Laconiko Blood Orange. Greece
Special Award Ràul Castellani Best of South America: LAGAR H AGROINDUSTRIA LTDA. Lagar H Koroneiki (Brazil)
Special Award Best of Messinia: Anagnostopoulos A. Co. One & Olive Premium Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Greece)
Special Award Best of Crete: Terra Creta SA. Terra Creta Grand Cru EVOO (Greece)
Special Award Best of Bajo d’Aragòn: MIO OLIVO (APADRINAUNOLIVO.ORG). DOP Bajo Aragon (Spain)
Special Award Scoglio dell’ulivo Best of Regione Calabria: Azienda agricola sorelle Garzo. Dolciterre Rosi' (Italy)
Best of Country:
Best of Argentina: Olivícola Laur - Millan SA. Contraviento (Argentina)
Best of Brazil: Prosperato. Prosperato Premium Blend (Brazil)
Best of Greece: Blaeuel Greek Organic Products. MANI Organic Greek Olive Oil Extra Virgin (Greece)
Best of Italy: Azienda Agricola Maselli di Maselli Maria Antonietta. Coratina (Italy)
Best of Portugal: Gallo Worldwide. Gallo Reserva (Portugal)
Best of Spain: Rafael Alonso Aguilera SL. Oro del Desierto Coupage (Spain)
Best of Turkey: Bozelli. Bozelli (Turkey)
The complete list of the winners and the certificates attesting the prize awarded is already available on the competition website www.evo-iooc.com.
