Efkrato Awarded Again for Tsounati at World Competition

Efkrato from Greece has won an award at the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

It is fair to say that Efkrato is the optimized version of the same pure olive oil we grew up with. Another Gold Award at the NYIOOC makes us proud. It is a recognition of our efforts to produce a unique olive oil that is healthy, sustainably produced and delicious.

Andreas Venakis, co-owner

The Crete-based producer earned a second-straight Gold Award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for an organic medium Tsounati.

"It is fair to say that Efkrato is the optimized version of the same pure olive oil we grew up with," co-owner Andreas Venakis said.

"Another Gold Award at the NYIOOC makes us proud," he added. "It is a recognition of our efforts to produce a unique olive oil that is healthy, sustainably produced and delicious."

In the 2022/23 crop year, the company used traditional methods to produce 2,000 liters of organic extra virgin olive oil.

Venakis cited drought and pests as the two most significant challenges he faced during the harvest.

"Our small organic olive groves of the ancient Cretan Variety Tsounati are traditionally not irrigated," he said. "Thus, droughts pose a big challenge while the fruit fly poses another."

"We tackle such issues holistically following the most natural approaches, like experimenting with biodynamic cultivation, allowing many different plants in the olive grove," Venakis added.

Held each spring in New York, the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's most prestigious olive oil contest. Its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.