Triple prominence of the cider in Valseco

The II Official Agrocanaria Cider Competition was held this Friday, 6 of June, in the Grancanario municipality of Valseco with the participation of a total of 23 ciders from nine companies, among them sixteen productions from Gran Canaria, three from Tenerife, three from La Palma, one from El Hierro, who choose, among other awards and distinctions, to become the best in the Canary Islands in this event organized by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA) and the Valleseco City Council.

The participating productions are divided into the three categories contemplated by the contest, that of natural ciders (natural apple must, sidra natural, sidra natural dulce, natural cider with low alcohol content, and natural cider with fruit); gasified (extract, seca, semi-dry and sweet), and foamy (extract, seca, semi-dry and sweet). The competition is governed by a blind tasting system, according to which the panel of experts, made up of eight tasters specialized in the analysis of agri-food products, evaluates samples without knowing their origin, determining with their evaluations in each category the great gold medal, the gold and the silver, as well as the special distinctions of 'Best cider in the Canary Islands 2025', 'Best organic cider in the Canary Islands 2025', and 'Best Image and Presentation 2025'.

During the presentation of the contest, the Minister of Agriculture, Cattle raising, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands, Narvay Quintero, highlighted that “with a production of 2.841 tons of apple in 2023 associated with a surface of some 323 hectares on the islands, This crop is beginning to consolidate itself as a raw material for preparations that are increasingly recognized for their quality in national and international competitions, even above regions with a long tradition in this field.”.

“Cider is positioning itself as an emerging product that expands the agri-food offer of our archipelago and allows diversification of mid-range crops in municipalities like Valleseco., epicenter of this activity thanks to the impulse of the producers and the city council”, he added.

In addition, Mayor José Luis Rodríguez Quintana highlighted that “At Valleseco we already have more than 29.000 apple trees and seven winepresses in operation, so we are building a comprehensive and sustainable development model that places us in the right direction, with a solid foundation for the future of Canarian ciders thanks to initiatives such as this contest, the regional fair or the training projects we develop”.

For your part, the Primary Sector advisor, Food Sovereignty and Water Security of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Miguel Hidalgo, He commented that “the expansion of the contest, which was initially insular, At the regional level, it brings prestige to this initiative and represents an opportunity for municipalities like Valleseco when it comes to promoting products such as cider or apples., that today are the spearhead on our island”.

The contest is part of the Official Agrocanarias Competitions, with which the Canarian Executive, through ICCA, annually recognizes and promotes the best cheeses, Wines, remembered, extra virgin olive oils and sea salts from the archipelago, and is part of the celebration of the III Regional Cider Fair of the Canary Islands, that promotes the local corporation, in this edition with the support of the Canarian Government.

Among other activities, The event hosted a meeting of cider producers from the Canary Islands, in the Juan Díaz Rodríguez de Valleseco Auditorium, and in which cider producers and specialists addressed topics of interest to the sector that range from the production process of this production, product labeling standards or their future prospects in the islands.

After a presentation by Mayor José Luis Rodríguez Quintana about the Valleseco Cider Logistics Center, the oenologist and master cider maker José Antonio Norniella will address the cultural and technical aspects in the production of cider and, later, The day will close with an introduction to the sensory analysis of these preparations.

During the meeting he will intervene, in addition, the agricultural engineer and technician of COAG, Hector Ramirez, with a presentation on apple cultivation in the Canary Islands in which he will refer to varieties, cropping systems and irrigation management, before giving way to the round table that will be moderated by food blogger Jackeline Marcano.

Regional Cider Fair

The III Regional Canary Cider Fair is held this Sunday, 8 of June, in the municipality of Valleseco, organized by the City Council and within the project 'Dinamiza Rural’ of the Government of the Canary Islands and with the collaboration of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria. This day represents recognition of the work of local cider houses and a commitment to the development of rural areas through the valorization of products with their own identity.. During the event, You can enjoy commented tastings of Canarian ciders, national and international, as well as gastronomic tastings with kilometer zero products, artisanal cheeses from the north of Gran Canaria and pinchos made by restaurants in the municipality.

The event will also offer specialized talks on production, quality and marketing of cider, with the aim of promoting its presence in the restaurant industry and its positioning as a gastronomic and tourist attraction. The III Regional Cider Fair of the Canary Islands is an example of the commitment of the institutions to the promotion of the primary sector, sustainability and boosting the local economy, highlighting the role of Valleseco as a reference in the cider culture of the archipelago.

This initiative is part of the 'Dinamiza Rural' program’ promoted by the Government of the Canary Islands, through the public company GMR Canarias, an initiative that is committed to the local economic development and sustainability of the Canarian municipalities under 10.000 inhabitants, through support for rural areas and the primary sector.this