Rayco Herrera’s Gofio Gomero de millo (corn gofio), produced under the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Gofio Canario, has been crowned the best in the Canary Islands for 2024. This recognition was given by the tasting panel of the Official Agrocanarias Competition, organised by the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-food Quality (ICCA), part of the regional government. With this latest accolade, Herrera has now received the prestigious Best Gofio de Canarias award for five consecutive competitions.
A Tradition of Excellence
In addition to being named the best gofio in the Canary Islands, Herrera’s Gofio Gomero also won the Best Local Grain Gofio award for his millet gofio. His products earned top marks from both adult and children’s juries, with the children’s jury awarding his wheat and millet blend with a grand gold medal. These distinctions showcase the superior quality of his gofio, continuing his streak of dominance in the competition.
Celebrating Local Heritage and Healthy Eating
At an award ceremony held at the Canary Islands Government headquarters in Tenerife, Narvay Quintero, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty, together with ICCA Director Luis Arráez Guadalupe, announced the winning products. Quintero emphasized the importance of these competitions in promoting traditional Canarian products, stating that gofio is not only a part of the islands’ history but also a cornerstone in encouraging healthy eating habits. He highlighted efforts to promote gofio consumption through public tastings and collaboration with local mills to adapt this traditional product to modern consumer trends.
Quintero also announced a new initiative aimed at increasing gofio consumption among children and young people in schools, inspired by references from the world of sports. This plan, aimed at fostering healthy eating habits, will be unveiled in the near future.
A Record-Breaking Competition
This year’s Agrocanarias competition took place in La Gomera on 18 and 19 September, featuring 71 gofios from 14 mills across the Canary Islands. A total of 25 prizes were awarded, including 19 medals (six silver, seven gold, and six grand gold) and six distinctions. Over two days of blind tasting, a panel of 16 expert tasters evaluated the gofios, ensuring an unbiased assessment of each product.
Notable Winners and New Categories
Among the other winners was Molino San Pedro from Gran Canaria, produced by José Antonio Hernández Rivero, whose lightly roasted millet gofio was awarded the Best Unsalted Gofio distinction, a new category introduced this year, along with a gold medal.
La Máquina Molino de Gofio, run by Alexis García Amaro in Tenerife, won the prize for Best Image and Presentation for its gofio mix.
In the wheat-based gofio category, both Gofio Gomero by Rayco Herrera and Molino de Gofio Imendi de Espelta, produced by ADRISUL S.L., received gold medals. Meanwhile, Molino de Gofio de Agua García in Tenerife earned a silver medal for its wheat gofio, produced by Vidal Hernández.
In the millet category, Molino de Gofio Buen Lugar S.L. in Gran Canaria stood out, winning a gold medal for its intensely roasted gofio and a silver medal for its medium-roasted variety. Additionally, Molino de Fuego from Sánchez Bruno S.L. earned a silver medal for its medium-roasted millet gofio.
For gofio blends of wheat and corn, Molino de Gofio Imendi received a gold medal, while Molino de Gofio El Sauzal, owned by Eduardo Afonso, was awarded a silver medal.
Special Mentions in Unique Blends
In the category for gofio made from cereals and/or legumes or other mixtures, La Molina de José María Gil S.L. from Lanzarote won a gold medal, while Imendi 3 Cereales received another gold.
Rayco Herrera also excelled in this category, winning a grand gold medal for his Gofio Gomero Ideal 5 blend, a gold medal for his wheat, millet, and barley gofio, and two silver medals for his 3 Cereals and Chickpeas and Especial 10 gofios, all produced under the PGI Gofio Canario label.
Recognizing Tradition and Innovation
The results of this year’s competition not only celebrate the best gofio producers in the Canary Islands but also highlight the balance between tradition and innovation in Canarian food production. As gofio continues to evolve to meet modern tastes and trends, these awards serve as a testament to the dedication and skill of local producers in maintaining the high quality and cultural significance of this beloved staple food.
