Kunisaki QLiVE Garden Awarded in World Competition Debut

Japan's Kunisaki QLiVE Garden has won an award at the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

It's our first time participating at the NYIOOC. We are very honored to receive the Silver Award in the world's largest olive oil competition.

Masahiro Ohno, CEO

The southern Japanese producer earned a Silver Award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for its 夢雫 Yumeshizuku brand, a medium-intensity blend.

"It's our first time participating at the NYIOOC," chief executive Masahiro Ohno said. "We are very honored to receive the Silver Award in the world's largest olive oil competition."

"Kunisaki QLiVE Garden will continue to produce high-quality olive oil with a policy of hand-picking and pressing oil within 12 hours after harvest," he added.

In the 2022/23 crop year, the company produced 693 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods. Ohno said inclement weather meant he produced less olive oil than anticipated this season.

"A typhoon just before the harvest caused damage to about 900 trees," he said. "Harvesting and restoration work overlapped and was very difficult, but with the cooperation of the local community, we were able to complete the harvest safely."

"We were able to harvest about 10 tons of fruit," Ohno added. "The next harvest is targeted at 15 tons."

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.