The Hojiblanca-picual olive oil of the Teguerey brand produced by Luis Hernández Santana in Fuerteventura has been chosen as the best production of the Canary Islands in the Official Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Agrocanarias 2023. Teguerey reaffirms its title in this seventh edition of the competition after winning the prize for the best oil in the islands in 2022.
This Wednesday, at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the jury’s decision was read out by the regional minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Alicia Vanoostende, and the director of the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), Basilio Pérez.
Both highlighted “the quality of the products presented and the effort made by the producers to produce excellent products”. A total of sixteen oil samples from eleven mills from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Fuerteventura and El Hierro took part in the competition.
By category, the silver medal went to the Oleoteide brand, of the arbequina/hojiblanca variety, from Tenerife, produced by Cumbres de Abona Cooperative Society. The gold medal went to the La Palma Oliva brand, of the picual/arbequina variety, from the island of La Palma, produced by Juan José Santos. As well as the silver medal, the large gold medal went to the Oleoteide brand, with the arbequina/picual variety.
In the special distinctions section, the distinction for best image and presentation went to the Caserío de Temisas brand, Rural Tourism de Agüimes S.L., from Gran Canaria, produced by the Town Council of the Villa de Agüimes.
Alicia Vanoostende stressed during her speech that the Canary Islands Government continues to support olive growing, not only by holding these awards, which promote the product, but also by promoting it outside the Canary Islands at fairs such as Madrid Gourmet or the extra virgin olive oil fair to be held in March in Madrid, which they will be attending.
The Councillor added that the Canary Islands Government’s support is not limited exclusively to promotion, but also to cultivation, such as the subsidies provided by the POSEI, with specific aid for the surface area of olive cultivation. In this regard, he said that work would continue in this direction, both with olive oil and with other local products, promoting quality figures.
She also pointed out that prizes have been awarded on four islands, “which shows that we have production and quality”. He also thanked the work of the ICCA, which makes it possible to hold these competitions throughout the archipelago, as well as the collaborating administrations and, of course, all the producers.
The director of the ICCA, Basilio Pérez, pointed out that the purpose of the Official Agrocanarias 2023 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition is to distinguish the products produced, bottled and packaged in the autonomous community and aims to publicise their organoleptic properties and contribute to their promotion, because “it is essential that consumers know that they are buying quality, unique and differentiated products”. He also congratulated all the participants, “who, with their effort and daily work, contribute to the exponential growth of this competition”, he said.
