The Agrocanarias Competition meets in La Gomera 21 oils 12 oil mills of the Archipelago, who seek recognition for the best EVOO in the Canary Islands 2026
| The island of La Gomera has become the epicenter of Canarian extra virgin olive oil with the celebration of the ninth edition of the Official Competition of Extra Virgin Olive Oils Agrocanarias, that brings together 21 samples from 12 Archipelago companies.
The contest, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Cattle raising, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), is celebrated in the Hotel Jardín Tecina after a year of hiatus caused by the crop shortage recorded in 2024.
The participating preparations come from several islands of the Archipelago: seven samples arrive from Fuerteventura —one of them ecological— presented by five companies; five from The Palm, also with an ecological one and represented by three oil mills; four from Gran Canaria from the same producer; two of Tenerife; two of Lanzarote, both from a single company; and a sample from The iron.
During the inauguration, the director general of the ICCA, Luis Arraez Guadalupe, He highlighted that the contest is “a great opportunity to highlight the excellence of a production that is increasingly gaining more prominence in the agri-food sector of the Islands.”. Besides, stressed the importance of recovering the contest after the pause caused by last year's poor harvest, pointing out that the return of the contest reflects “the current improvement and good health of the sector”.
For your part, the CEO of the Primary Sector of the Cabildo of La Gomera, Noelia Morales, He pointed out that hosting this contest reinforces the island's position as a reference in the Canarian agri-food field., while making visible the work of the producers of the Archipelago.
The samples are subjected to a process of blind tasting carried out by a panel of ten expert tasters, that evaluate different product parameters. The analysis begins with the olfactory phase, where the aromatic intensity and fruitiness—green or ripe—are valued., and continue with the taste phase, in which the oils are tasted at a controlled temperature of between 28 y 30 degrees to analyze the balance and harmony of flavors.
The oils compete to obtain the Grand Gold Medal -from 85 points-, the Gold medal —with at least 80 points—or Silver Medal -from 75 points-. Besides, The best scores will be eligible for special distinctions such as Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Canary Islands 2026, Best Organic EVOO from the Canary Islands 2026 y Best Image and Presentation, award that recognizes packaging and labeling design.
The award-winning oils will be announced in the coming weeks at an official event organized by the ICCA. Posteriorly, The award-winning productions will be exhibited at the organization's facilities and the oil that obtains the distinction of Best EVOO from the Canary Islands will star in a report to promote its dissemination in specialized media and platforms.
