Istrian Producer Brassica Wins Gold

Croatian producer Brassica has won an award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

As a relatively new producer, it makes me very proud, and confirms my devotion to the organic growing of high-quality Istrian heirloom olive varieties.

Aleksej Červar, owner

The Istrian producer earned a Gold Award for its Červar Organic brand, an organic medium blend.

"It's a terrific achievement, my first international award," owner Aleksej Červar said. "As a relatively new producer, it makes me very proud and confirms my devotion to the organic growing of high-quality Istrian heirloom olive varieties."

In the 2022/23 crop year, Brassica produced 400 liters of extra virgin olive oil from Buža, Belica bianchera, Črnica and Rossignola olives using traditional methods.

Despite this year's success, Červar said extreme weather events and drought are making olive oil production increasingly difficult in Istria.

"Weather patterns are becoming unpredictable," he said. "Extreme summer heat and drought last year changed the regular appearance of usual olive pests; some insects didn't appear at all, and others attacked seemingly out of nowhere and significantly reduced the amount of fruit."

Held each spring in New York, the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition 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.