Rancho Azul y Oro Adds to NYIOOC Win Streak

Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm from the United States added to its awards tally at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

Winning two Gold Awards at the NYIOOC is truly an honor for anyone, let alone such a small farm... Each year, we attempt to improve our process and, hopefully, our oils.

Kathryn Keeler, co-owner

The central California producer earned two Gold Awards for a medium Arbequina blend and a medium Estate Blend of Frantoio, Arbequina, Coratina, Leccino, Manzanilla, Pendolino and Mission olives.

"Winning two Gold Awards at the NYIOOC is truly an honor for anyone, let alone such a small farm," co-owner Kathryn Keeler said. "We perform all functions, from growing to hand harvesting."

"Each year, we attempt to improve our process and, hopefully, our oils," she added. "We encounter challenges and setbacks, but we remain focused on our goal to produce the best olive oil possible."

Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm previusly earned Gold Awards in 2021 and 2022 editions of the world's largest olive oil quality competition.

In the 2022/23 crop year, the company harvested three tons of olives to transform into extra virgin olive oil. Keeler said the ongoing drought and heat impacted the harvest.

"The 2022 growing season was difficult because it was at the end of a multi-year drought, and we had prolonged stretches of heat over 100 ºF (38 ºC)," she said. "Extreme heat can slow the ripening process."

"As we got closer to harvest, weather forecasts began to show the early onset of winter and we chose to harvest earlier and still brought in our largest harvest," Keeler added.

Held each spring in New York, the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's 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.