Celal Volkan Pekcan Transforms 150 Years of Experience Into NYIOOC Gold

Celal Volkan Pekcan from Turkey has won a Gold Award at the 2022 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

Overlooking the North Aegean Sea in Turkey's olive oil-soaked Anatolia region, the producer earned the award for a medium Ayvalik.

"I am very delighted and happy, and hope to win next year as well," owner Celal Volkan Pekcan said, partially attributing his success to his family's 150-year history of producing olive oil in western Turkey.

Volkan Pekcan said he faced various climatic challenges during the harvest, including rainy, windy and cold days while his team harvested the olives.

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held each spring in New York, is the world's largest and most prestigious olive oil contest. Its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.

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