The Best of Albania’s Olive Oil Receive Recognition of Quality

JUNE 28, 2007 –This evening a ceremony was held at Tirana International Hotel to award prizes for the best Albanian virgin and extra virgin olive oil, as well as the olive oil with the best chemical analysis. Awards were presented by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection, Ndoc Fasllia, and USAID Mission Director, Edward T. Landau. The 2007 National Olive Oil Competition is part of an on-going effort by the United State Agency for International Development to support the olive oil sector through training and technical assistance.

Skilja sh.p.k., represented by Mr. Fatmir Skilja won the first prize for extra virgin olive oil. Shkalla sh.p.k., represented by Ms. Shpresa Shkalla won second prize and IVAP sh.p.k., represented by Ms. Valentina Postoli won third prize in the category of extra virgin olive oil. The best Albanian virgin olive oil, which has a somewhat higher percentage of acidity than that of extra virgin, was awarded to ANI sh.p.k., represented by Mr. Anastas Gjikondi. Second prize in the virgin olive oil category was won by IVAP sh.p.k. Skilja sh.p.k. submitted the olive oil with the best chemical analysis.

The panel of judges was composed of olive oil producers and academic, scientific and food safety experts who received training by an international official Panel Supervisor of the International Olive Oil Council, brought to Albania through USAID’s Enterprise Development and Export Market Services (EDEM) Project. The chemical analysis was conducted by the Food and Research Institute in Tirana. Seventeen Albanian firms took part in the competition by submitting samples of virgin and/or extra virgin olive oil. A total of 21 samples were submitted. Of those, 14 passed the chemical analysis, six in the extra virgin category and eight in the virgin category. In addition to chemical analysis, the panel used internationally accepted tasting standards to select the winners.

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