The best of the Canarian product in the year that ends

The Department of Agriculture, Cattle raising, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), has recognized today, 12 from December, the excellence of the agri-food products of the archipelago with the delivery of a total of 166 awards for the best wines, cheeses, remembered, cider, extra virgin olive oils and sea salts from the islands within the framework of the Official Agrocanarias Competition 2024.

During the ceremony of awarding these distinctions, the area advisor, Narvay Quintero, congratulated to all the winners “because their products, no doubt, They are the best in the archipelago”. “Today is a special day, una tarde de celebración en la que reconocemos la excelencia y agradecemos a los productores y productoras su esfuerzo diario para obsequiarnos con el fruto de su labor cotidiana, como muestran los casi 600 productos participantes en esta edición de los Concursos Agrocanarias. It is precisely your participation, edition after edition, lo que aporta prestigio a este certamen ya consolidado”, señaló el titular del departamento.

During his intervention, el miembro del Ejecutivo destacó que “sea a partir de milenarias tradiciones, like the gofio that the first settlers of these islands left us, or through recently incorporated productions, como el aceite o la sidra, todos los productores del sector primario perpetúan esa cultura apegada al territorio y a las raíces que aprendimos de nuestros antepasados”.

“Hoy, este legado continúa vivo en las manos de los profesionales del sector primario y agroalimentario que perpetúan esa tradición basada en obtener lo mejor de los recursos que nos ofrece la tierra, el mar y el clima de este rincón del Atlántico, y que también han sabido evolucionar y se han adaptado a los nuevos perfiles y hábitos de consumo sin renunciar a procesos productivos artesanales respetuosos con el medio ambiente y que constituyen la esencia de esas producciones”, Indian. “Creo que es precisamente en este equilibrio entre tradición e innovación donde radica la clave de su éxito”, concluded.

For your part, the director of the Canarian Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA), Luis Arraez Guadalupe, reiterated congratulations to distinguished producers, technical staff of the Institute, tasters and tasters, as well as the collaborating companies and administrations in the different contests for their involvement in these initiatives that value and recognize the quality and uniqueness of local products of distinctive quality and contribute to promoting their commercialization.. “This contest is part of the promotion and development policies implemented by the ICCA to reinforce the consumption of Canarian productions and raise awareness among consumers about the importance of choosing them for the benefits they have for our primary sector and for society as a whole., given that we boost the local economy, We contribute to the conservation of the agricultural landscapes of the islands, our traditions and the rural environment, and we also recognize the work of the people behind these productions”, added.

The ceremony, directed by presenters Pilar Rumeu and Elvis Sanfiel, it was attended by award-winning people from all the islands, the management team of the Ministry of Agriculture and other members of the Canarian Government, authorities of regional and local public administrations, representatives of all the island councils, of Agricultural Professional Organizations, Fishermen's Guilds, the Regulatory Councils of the different Protected Designations of Origin of the Archipelago, of primary sector companies and producer organizations, and teaching staff and students of the Tacoronte Agrarian Training School, among other attendees.

In this edition of the contest, they have participated 587 productions and have been granted 166 awards, of which 61 correspond to cheeses, 58 to wines, 25 to gofios, nine to ciders, eight to sea salts and five to oils.

At the cheese contest, in which they competed 223 productions corresponding to 75 cheese factories of the islands and they distributed 61 awards, The production La Pastora spread with paprika was the winner, raw milk semi-cured mixture, produced by Ganadería La Pared SL in Fuerteventura, which received the distinction of Best Cheese of the Canary Islands.

The best wine of this edition went to Brumas de Ayosa Malvasía Aromática, prepared by SAT Viticultores of the Güímar Region, under the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) Güímar Valley (Tenerife). Of the 230 samples received from wineries throughout the Archipelago were recognized 58 in the different categories.

Regarding the cider competition, called for the first time this year, Black Label Foaming Mist, made by María Belén Rodríguez Pérez in Gran Canaria, was chosen as the best in the Canary Islands among the 23 samples presented, of which nine were awarded.

In addition, Teguerey Arbequina-hojiblanca extra virgin olive oil, made by Luis Hernández Santana in Fuerteventura, was chosen as the best in the Canary Islands in this edition, in which they participated 28 samples, of which five were awarded.

On the other hand, Gofio Gomero of millet, prepared by Rayco Herrera under the Protected Geographical Indication “Remembering Canary” obtained the distinction of best gofio in the Archipelago, among a total of 71 products from 14 island mills. On this occasion, were granted 25 prizes distributed in 19 medals and 6 distinctions. This mill also received different medals in different categories., the distinction of Best Local Grain Gofio and the one awarded by the jury of seniors for this same production, in addition to the award given by the children's jury for his wheat and millet Gofio Gomero.

Besides, the Flower of Salt of Salinas del Carmen (Fuerteventura) produced by PROASUR Cultural Management S.L, received the award for Best Sea Salt in the Canary Islands 2024, as well as the distinction for the Best Organic Salt in the Canary Islands 2024, in an edition in which a dozen productions have participated, of which eight of them received awards.

In each contest, a panel made up of expert tasters, professionals specializing in the analysis of agri-food products, has been in charge of deciding with his evaluations the award-winning productions. The evaluation of the samples is carried out following the blind tasting system, that is, without knowing what productions are being analyzed, which are presented referenced with a numerical code.

During the event, the promotional spot starring the group of comedians 'El Supositorio' was screened.’ within the institutional campaign developed by the ICCA and the public company Gestión del Medio Rural de Canarias in the media to promote, under the motto “Bet on local products. Our primary sector wins, we all win”, the consumption of local products on these dates of celebrations. Besides, The musical performances of the timplist Víctor Estarico and the singer Claudia Álamo enlivened a gala that concluded with the interpretation of the Canary Islands anthem and a tasting of the award-winning products in the different Agrocanarias Contests.