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Agrocanarias 2026 meets in La Palma 264 cheeses 85 you would like, with more participation and new aid for national and international competitions
He Official Agrocanarias Competition 2026 meets this Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June in The Palm a total of 264 cheeses coming from 85 you would like of the Archipelago. The contest, organized by the Canarian Institute of Agri-Food Quality of the Government of the Canary Islands, seeks to recognize the best cheese productions of the islands and reinforce their promotion inside and outside the Archipelago.
Participation grows compared to previous editions. This year they present a 18,39% more cheese that in 2025 and a 58,08% further that in 2023. The number of participating cheese factories also increases, with an increase of 13,33% compared to last year.
By islands, Gran Canaria It is the one that provides the most cheese, con 33, followed by The Palm, con 15; Tenerife, con 14; Fuerteventura, con 12; Lanzarote, con 7; The iron, con 2; y La Gomera, with others 2. Regarding the cheeses presented, 102 They come from Gran Canaria, 51 of the palm, 43 from Tenerife, 36 from Fuerteventura, 26 from Lanzarote, 4 from El Hierro and 2 from La Gomera.
The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Cattle raising, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero; the director of the ICCA, Luis Arraez Guadalupe; the councilor of the area in the Cabildo of La Palma, Alberto Paz; and the Councilor for Agriculture of the Breña Baja City Council, Daniel Cabrera.
During the act, Quintero highlighted the growth of the contest in recent editions and defended the weight of the cheese sector in the Canary Islands, both for its tradition and for the recognition obtained in national and international competitions. That's it, for his part, linked this type of contest with the strategy of supporting producers in the primary sector and with the need for these preparations to reach fair prices in the market.
One of the new features of this edition is that the ICCA will pay the registration and logistics costs of companies admitted to Agrocanarias that want to participate in the World Cheese Awards, which will be held in Córdoba in November. Besides, All admitted productions will have the expenses covered to participate in the Gourmet Cheese Championship 2027, scheduled in Madrid.
The contest is developed through blind tasting, with a specialized panel that evaluates the samples without knowing their origin. Cheeses compete in different categories depending on the type of milk, the livestock species, the degree of maturation, coagulation and the presence of molds.
Categories include cheeses made with pasteurized milk and raw milk, of goat, vaca, sheep and mix, in maturations ranging from tender to aged. Flower and half-flower cheeses are also valued., of moldy bark and blues.
The jury will award large gold medals, gold medals and silver medals. Besides, several special distinctions will be awarded, between them Best Cheese from the Canary Islands, Best Organic Cheese from the Canary Islands, Best Limited Production Cheese from the Canary Islands y Best Image and Presentation.
The contest also includes two recognitions with the participation of other tasting profiles. He Best Popular Cheese of the Canary Islands will be chosen by a panel of consumers made up of teachers and students from the Hospitality and Tourism department of the CIFP Virgin of Las Nieves, in Santa Cruz de La Palma. For your part, he Best Cheese Chosen by the Children's Jury It will be selected by students from schools in different Palma towns among cheeses made with goat's milk..
The cheese that is chosen as Best Cheese from the Canary Islands will star in a promotional report for the ICCA. The award-winning productions will be able to use the official badge of the award obtained for one year and participate in promotional actions organized by the institute..
