Country's top-rated olive oils announced at SA Olive Awards 2022

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Judged by an expert panel of international and local judges, the main objective of the SA Olive Awards is to give official recognition to the country’s extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) producers’ commitment and continual pursuit of excellence, in spite of the challenges faced during the year.

This year's awards attracted a total of 119 entries from 49 producers - an increase on last year’s 113 entries from 46 producers. The highest-scoring gold medal winners from the SA Olive Awards are entered into a further round of judging and the top EVOOs selected for the prestigious Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, which will take place on 7 October 2022.

Producers De Rustica, Mardouw and Porterville all scored multiple Gold medals this year.

Today the @SAOliveIndustry celebrates the commitment & pursuit of quality by SA Extra Virgin Olive Oil producers at the lovely @laboriewines in Paarl. #SAagriculture #Agroprocessing pic.twitter.com/7bokZTrBqq

— Bizcom Agriculture (@Biz_Agriculture) September 8, 2022

These are this year's Gold medal winners in the three SA Olive Awards categories.

Gold awards in Delicate category

Gold awards in Medium category

Gold awards in Intense category

Vittoria Jooste, CEO of the SA Olive Industry said, “We congratulate all the winners and thank all the participants, judges, organisers and sponsors – Alfa Laval, Amenduni, Mori-Tem and Pieralisi – for making this yet another successful awards ceremony, when we can salute and celebrate the quality and excellence of our locally produced EVOOs.”

Click here for the full list of winners, including Silver and Bronze medallists.