Olives New Zealand Wins 4 Awards at 2021 NYIOOC

Olives New Zealand has won three Gold Awards and one Silver Award at the 2021 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

Once again, New Zealand has won Gold Awards in New York, reflecting the passion and commitment of our growers in producing quality extra virgin olive oil that competes particularly well in a global environment.

Gayle Sheridan, CEO

In the 2020/21 crop year, the 200 associated farmers behind the company produced 300,000 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods.

"Once again, New Zealand has won Gold Awards in New York, reflecting the passion and commitment of our growers in producing quality extra virgin olive oil that competes particularly well in a global environment," Gayle Sheridan, the company's CEO, said.

The association earned its three Gold Awards for a medium Picual by Juno Picual, an organic medium blend by Waikawa Glen and a medium blend by Olive Black. Sapphire Olives earned the Silver Award for its medium blend.

While New Zealand's producers enjoyed another triumphant year at the NYIOOC, Sheridan said that 2020 had come with plenty of challenges.

"The 2020 harvest year in New Zealand was challenging," she said. "A promising flowering did not translate into a good fruit set for some, followed by drought conditions in many regions resulting in small fruit and/or fruit drop, and then slow ripening."

"However, all oils produced were assessed as extra virgin and there were some stunning oil profiles," she added.

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 on the Official Index of the World's Best Olive Oils.