‘Donkey Safari Las Tirajanas’, best extra virgin olive oil from Gran Canaria 2023

The brand ‘Donkey Safari Las Tirajanas’ won the title of Best Oil from Gran Canaria 2023, in it VIII Official Competition for Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Gran Canaria, that drives the Primary Sector Counseling, Food sovereignty and water security of the Council, what guardianship Miguel Hidalgo. So, this oil, produced by Mateo Martin Vega in the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, obtains this award for the second consecutive year and, besides, the same mill got third place, con ‘Donkey Safari Las Tirajanas Arbequina and Picual’, while the second on the podium was oil ‘Finca Los Barros’ y 'Hamlet of Temisas' won the award for best image and presentation, which was collected by the councilor of Dwelling, Ecological Transition and Primary Sector of the Agüimes Town Hall, Francisco Trujillo, given that the producing oil mill is municipally owned.

Thus, three of the seven oil samples presented by five oil mills at the contest shared the 2.800 euros with which it was endowed and which was delivered by the Area advisor. In detail, he Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Gran Canaria 2023 got 2.000 euros, the second winner, 500, and the third, 300. The reading of the minutes and the presentation of the awards took place in the Experimental Agricultural Farm of the Cabildo, where, the last day 12 from December, the competition tasting was held, by a jury of experts.

In fact, through this contest, The Ministry promotes and disseminates the cultivation of the olive tree and its products, and promotes the quality of island oils, in addition to recognizing the work of all the people who work in this sector on the Island and highlighting local production and the relevance of its consumption.. So, It should be noted that, since the celebration of the first edition of this contest, in 2012, The cultivation of the olive tree has spread throughout Gran Canaria and has gone from 54 hectares in that year to more than 232 in 2022 and more than 20.921 scattered trees.

In this regard, It should be noted that the Island today has 14 oil mills and six bottling plants, and that has gone in a very short time from rudimentary production with stone mills and press to modern facilities, that work in a two-phase continuous system. In this way, in these moments, Annual production has a very wide range of oscillations, what about the 300 to the 30.000 liters per year, although the weather conditions are, largely, those responsible for the amount produced in each harvest. So much so that the unusual weather experienced during the flowering of the olive trees in 2023, with haze and abnormally high temperatures, has affected the harvest by area and production has been around 15.000 liters.