Celebrating Excellence: Sicily’s Finest Olive Oils Recognized

The “Ercole Olivario Olivario Region Sicily 2025” awards, a regional precursor to the esteemed national “Ercole Olivario” prize, celebrated Sicily’s top olive oil producers yesterday. This initiative, designed to spotlight the region’s remarkable olive oil production, is a collaborative effort between the Chamber of Commerce of Umbria, the Sicily Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Sicily.

Award Ceremony Highlights

The awards ceremony took place at the “GB Cartia” Auditorium, located at the Ragusa headquarters of the South East Sicily Chamber of Commerce. The event recognized outstanding achievements in both the DOP/IGP (Protected Designation of Origin/Protected Geographical Indication) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil categories.

DOP/IGP Category Winners:

• First Place: Rollo di Giorgio rollo company (Ragusa)
• Second Place: Miceli & Sensat Biological Farm (Monreale)
• Third Place: mandranova agricultural company in RL (Palermo)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Category Winners:

• first Place: Giovanni cutrera company (Chiaramonte gulfi)
• Second Place: Miceli & Sensat Biological Farm (Monreale)
• third Place: Frantoio Cutrera (Chiaramonte Gulfi)

Additional Recognitions and National Qualification

Beyond the main categories, the awards also acknowledged “La drop d’Ercole” for small-scale producers, the best table olives, and special mentions for monocultivar oil, organic agriculture, and women-led businesses. Moreover, Sicilian companies that have previously won national “Ercole Olivario” awards were honored for their consistent excellence over the past three decades, securing their place in the prize’s prestigious golden register.

Nine Sicilian companies, presenting eleven exceptional oils, have now qualified for the national phase of the “Ercole Olivario” competition. These selections were made by a jury comprising panel experts, technicians, and members of recognized tasting committees at the Southern Sicily Chamber of Commerce. The selected companies are:

• Rollo di Giorgio Rollo company (Ragusa)
• Miceli & Sensat Biological Farm (Monreale) – for both DOP/IGP and Extra Virgin categories
• Mandranova agricultural company in RL (Palermo)
• Agricultural Society Giovanni Cutrera (Ragusa)
• Frantoio Cutrera srl (Ragusa) – for both DOP/IGP and Extra Virgin categories
• Agrestis Agricultural Cooperative Company (Syracuse)
• La Madre Terra Terra Cooperative Agricultural Society (agrigento)
• SPANò SNC SERSE AGRICULTY AGRICULTY (SIRACUSA)
• Frantoi Covato srl (Ragusa)

Key Speakers and Industry Support

The regional award ceremony featured prominent speakers,including Giuseppe Pace,president of Unioncamere Sicilia; Santa Vaccaro,Secretary General; Antonino Belcuore,extraordinary commissioner of the South East Sicily Chamber of Commerce,along with Secretary General Rosario Condorelli and Giovanna Licitra,head of headquarters; Giorgio Mencaroni,president of the Chamber of Commerce of Umbria and the coordination committee of the “National Award Ercole Olivario,” and Federico Sisti,Secretary General and director of the National Prize; and Giuseppe Cassì,the mayor of Ragusa.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agricultural Policies, the Regional Department of Agriculture, local institutions, and organizations dedicated to promoting olive oil also attended. This included local and national employers and Sicilian protection consortia, highlighting the widespread support for the olive oil sector.

Culinary Festivity and Future Outlook

The event concluded with a tasting session featuring the winning oils, expertly paired with dishes prepared by Chef Accursio Capraro. capraro conducted two show cooking demonstrations centered around extra virgin olive oil, with assistance from students, teachers, and school manager Rosario Biazzo of the “Galileo Ferraris” hotel institute in Ragusa.

The “Ercole Olivario” awards not only celebrate the current achievements of Sicilian olive oil producers but also contribute to the ongoing promotion and preservation of this vital agricultural sector. As consumers increasingly seek high-quality, authentic products, these awards play a crucial role in highlighting the exceptional standards of Sicilian olive oil on both a national and international stage. According to recent industry reports, the demand for premium extra virgin olive oil continues to rise, with consumers willing to pay a premium for products with proven quality and origin. This trend underscores the importance of initiatives like the “Ercole Olivario” in supporting and promoting producers who are committed to excellence.

“The ‘Ercole olivario’ awards are a testament to the dedication and passion of Sicilian olive oil producers,” stated Giuseppe Pace, president of Unioncamere Sicilia, during the ceremony. “These awards not only recognize excellence but also contribute to the sustainable growth of the region’s agricultural sector.”