Early Harvest Yields Award-Winning Result for Zlatna Šoltanka

The producer association representing 20 olive farmers from the Croatian island of Šolta has won two Gold Awards at the 2024 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

The Gold Awards at the NYIOOC, for Šolta olive growers – and all Dalmatian olive growers – is the most authoritative proof that we did everything right and that we managed to produce the best that our olive fruits can give.

Zlatko Burić, co-founder

Zlatna Šoltanka earned the awards at the world's largest olive oil quality competition for its Šoltansko Maslinovo Ulje brand, an organic medium-intensity Soltanka/Levantinka, and its organic medium Zlatna Šoltanka Oblica brand. Since 2017, the association has won 12 awards at the World Competition.

"The Gold Awards at the NYIOOC, for Šolta olive growers – and all Dalmatian olive growers – is the most authoritative proof that we did everything right and that we managed to produce the best that our olive fruits can give," said co-founder Zlatko Burić.

The association produced 5,000 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods in the 2023/24 crop year.

"2023 was very demanding on the island of Šolta," Burić said. "The hot summer with temperatures exceeding 37 °C did not allow the olive fruit fly to spread, but the autumn rains and lower temperatures led to the proliferation of the third generation of the olive fly. As a result, Šolta olive growers picked their olives by mid-October and achieved top-quality olive oil."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's preeminent olive oil quality contest. Its annual list of award winners is the authoritative guide to the world's best olive oils and the dedicated producers who craft them.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.