Local brands win fewer prizes at international olive oil competition

The significant challenges facing the olive oil industry in Greece and other parts of the world were more than apparent at the last Athena International Olive Oil Competition (ATHIOOC) - which took place in the Peloponnesian town of Nafplio last month - resulting in a 17 percent reduction in the number of distinctions awarded from last year, even though the number of contestants was more or less the same.
As regards Greece in particular, the drop in the number of prizes won by local entries came to a sizable 40 percent, despite the higher number of participants, with Greek contestants walking away with 27 Bronze medals, 32 Silver, five Gold and one Double Gold.
The prize for best olive oil in the competition went to Conde de Mirasol from Cordoba in Spain's Andalusia region, made from the Hojiblanca variety, while the best Greek olive oil prize went to One & Olive from the...