La Spanish Association of Olive Municipalities (AEMO) made public the best projects that spread the culture of the olive tree in the last year. This is the XXII edition of this contest whose jury agreed the ruling in Cordoba last April 12. Specifically, the first prize has been for “Bottles with soul”, of Almazaras de la Subbética; the second prize has been for “Oleotur Cazorla”, of Aceites Cazorla SCA; and the third prize has been for the Spanish Association of Masters of Olive Oil Mills (AEMODA) for its informative activities developed in 2023. Regarding “Bottles with soul”, from Almazaras de la Subbética, the jury valued the commitment, social impact and solidarity of this altruistic project that combines the educational component with the raising of funds for such an important purpose as the research of childhood leukemia.
This project consists of having school students paint an EVOO label with the theme of the olive grove and solidarity, and these exclusive labels dress the extra virgin of the cooperative and are sold, dedicating four euros of each unit to the Asociación Sonrisas sin Cáncer (Smiles without Cancer Association). As for “Oleotur Cazorla”, of Acetes Cazorla SCA, the jury has highlighted the quality and variety of this complete offer of oleotourism developed by a cooperative in the heart of the Natural Park of the Sierra de Cazorla, which is a boost to the olive culture in a comprehensive manner. This project supposes an integral and integrated action that includes from a thematic center located in a modern building that conjugates the modern and the traditional thing, up to an educational experience with environmental and natural components fusing from the tasting up to the visit to thousand-year-old olive trees of the environment. He also highlighted the quality of the olive oil tourism resource “for its thoroughness and professionalism in the visits, which are organized in different languages and in a wide range of modalities”. Finally, on the informative and formative activities of AEMODA -presented by Manuel Caravaca, president of the entity-, which in 2023 reached more than 1,000 people in 26 Spanish localities, it has been emphasized that through them the attendees were shown the differences in quality of different virgin olive oils, explaining the nuances of AOVEs and giving them an explanation about them.
“Olive juice takes care of your health”. The jury considered important both the scope and the well-argued dissemination of this action that extols the two great virtues of virgin olive oils, such as gastronomy and their culinary uses, as well as their healthy effects through a book written in a simple way and for all audiences. The jury of these prizes has been integrated by Cristóbal Lovera, doctor agricultural engineer and olive grower; Fernando López Segura, medical internist and expert in olive oil and health; Salvador Cubero, agricultural engineer and olive grower; Rafael Jordano, professor of the University of Cordoba (UCO); Luis Navarro, agricultural engineer and researcher; and Desiderio Vaquerizo, professor of archaeology of the UCO and writer. José Mª Penco, director of AEMO, acted as secretary. From AEMODA, we thank JJ Gaforio for his work in the edition of the book and AEMO for the recognition that comes to value the work done with this publication. SOURCE: MERCACEI
