In Algeria’s Harsh Interior, Dahbia Builds an Award-Winning Olive Oil
Dahbia Olive Oil, cultivated on 40 hectares in Algeria’s semi‑arid Djelfa plateau, earned a Silver Award at the 2026 New York International Olive Oil Competition. Founder Hakim Alileche planted 15,000 trees and adopted organic, early‑harvest practices that prioritize low yields and high polyphenol levels. The resulting oil showcases intense green fruitiness and herbal notes that reflect the harsh terroir and the native Chemlal cultivar. The accolade positions Dahbia to target premium markets in Europe and North America while showcasing Algeria’s capacity for world‑class olive oil.
Tunisian Producer Blends Tradition and Technology to Raise Olive Oil Quality
Les Montagnes du Nord, a family‑owned Tunisian estate, won a Silver Award at the 2026 NYIOOC for its Chetoui monovarietal Cirta olive oil. The 100‑hectare farm blends certified organic, hand‑harvested practices with a continuous‑phase mill and irrigates 10,000 trees to...
Used Cooking Oil Finds New Life in Innovative Materials for Cars, Homes
Italian researchers at the University of Pisa have demonstrated that used cooking oil can be chemically converted into polyols, the key building block for polyurethane foams, phase‑change heat‑storage panels, and bio‑lubricants. Funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the...
Heart Association’s New Guidance Recommends Olive Oil and Other Unsaturated Fats
The American Heart Association’s 2026 dietary guidance upgrades its recommendations, placing olive oil, soybean oil and canola oil among the preferred sources of unsaturated fat. The new guidance pivots from focusing on individual nutrients to endorsing whole‑food dietary patterns that...
Portuguese Olive Oils Find New Path to U.S. Market
Portuguese olive oil producer collective Wildly Virgin has curated a portfolio of single‑origin, small‑batch oils that recently secured three gold medals at the New York International Olive Oil Competition. The brand works with family‑run farms across Alentejo, Ribatejo and Trás‑os‑Montes,...
Gold Awards Highlight Montenegro’s Quality-First Olive Oil Ambitions
Montenegro’s publicly owned producer Kuća Maslina secured its first Gold Award at the 2026 New York International Olive Oil Competition with the monovarietal Mirovica, a Žutica‑based oil rooted in the historic Stara Maslina tree. The mill combines traditional hand‑picking and...
Turkey Seeks Greater Returns From Olive Oil Expansion
Turkey’s olive sector has doubled its tree count to about 200 million, delivering a record 475,000 metric tons in the 2024/25 harvest and cementing its place as the world’s second‑largest producer. Despite the volume surge, 40 % of the oil is still shipped...
NYIOOC Unveils Marketplace for Fresh, Award-Winning Olive Oils
The New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) has launched a multilingual e‑commerce platform, oliveoilshop.com, that sells only current‑year award‑winning extra‑virgin olive oils. The marketplace connects consumers in Europe, the United States and Canada directly with producers and authorized distributors,...
Trade Agreements Extend Europe’s Food Quality Rules Beyond Its Borders
The European Union is embedding its geographical indication (GI) system into major trade agreements, extending protected food‑quality standards to markets in Latin America, Oceania, Japan, Canada, China and India. Recent deals with Australia and the Mercosur bloc will recognize hundreds...
On Menorca, an Olive Oil Identity Shaped by Soil, Sea and Wind
Son Felip, a farm in northern Menorca, earned a Silver Award at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for its Koroneiki monovarietal extra virgin olive oil. The producer uses regenerative agriculture, early‑harvest processing, and biodiversity‑focused practices that boost polyphenol...
Sommelier Program Returns to New York for 10th Edition
The Olive Oil Times Education Lab’s Sommelier Certificate Program is back in New York’s Flatiron District for its 10th annual edition, a milestone for the five‑day intensive course. The flagship program delivers rigorous training in sensory analysis, production methods, health benefits,...