Palmi, Calabria – Palmi, the beating heart of the Costa Viola, has been chosen once again as the location for the tasting sessions of the tenth edition of EVO IOOC Italy, the olive oil contest, which is confirmed as the benchmark for olive oil excellence on a global scale.
This year’s event, which will culminate in Rome on July 12 with the awarding of the prestigious EVO IOOC Italy trophies at the Acquario Romano, has celebrated the producers who, with passion and dedication, have managed to stand out in a global olive oil landscape undergoing profound transformation.
In recent years, the olive oil sector has undergone a period of significant—and often dramatic—change. As repeatedly emphasized by the competition’s presidency, the challenges posed by climate change and global warming have forced countries with a long-standing olive-growing tradition to make unprecedented and complex decisions, putting well-established practices to the test.
At the same time, 2025 has confirmed a well-established trend: the rise of new and highly competitive players on the global stage of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Nations that, until recently, were not among the major producers are now emerging with determination, offering exceptional oils capable of competing at the highest levels. This new landscape confirms an undeniable truth: EVO oil no longer has geographical or cultural boundaries, nor uncontested leaders—but rather a constellation of key players united by a single goal: superior quality.
Whereas not long ago the global stage of olive oil excellence was almost entirely dominated by a few Italian regions, backed by the ‘Made in Italy’ label long synonymous with prestige, the 2025 edition of EVO IOOC Italy has highlighted a broader range of actors, coming from different horizons yet all committed to the pursuit of high quality.
The 2025 edition saw participation numbers close to record levels, with over 300 registered companies—an encouraging sign during what remains a challenging time for the global olive oil industry. A total of 707 products were submitted, including 629 EVO oils and 78 Flavored Condiments, with companies from 28 countries and production facilities spread across 25 nations in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
These outstanding products, arriving from all corners of the globe, were the true stars of the three-day intense tasting session. Thirty international judges from 10 different countries and 5 Italian regions—selected among the world’s leading EVOO tasting experts—put their skills to the test at the CapoSperone Resort in Palmi.
“The judges remain the central figure of our competition, the core around which everything revolves,” reiterated Antonio G. Lauro, President of EVO International. “It is thanks to their meticulous evaluation work that we can celebrate excellence in the sector year after year. These are prominent figures in the world of extra virgin olive oil, gastronomy, and journalism—leaders in their countries with highly prestigious credentials.”
This year as well, the international jury included experts from Japan, the Netherlands, Croatia, Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Greece, and Spain, underscoring the global scope of the competition. Representing Italy were professionals from Sicily, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Campania, and, of course, Calabria.
As Lauro pointed out, these experts were entrusted with the task of evaluating over 700 samples of extra virgin olive oil and EVO-based condiments—products that reflect the dedication of companies which, despite growing industry challenges, worked tirelessly throughout the year to deliver their finest creations to consumers around the world.
The nominations, the result of this meticulous evaluation process, were unveiled on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, and are already available on the official EVO IOOC Italy website, as well as on the contest’s Facebook, Instagram pages, and YouTube channel. However, we will have to wait until May 23rd to discover the full list of medal winners, and until early June 2025 to learn the names of the Best in Class, Best of Country, and Special Award recipients of EVO IOOC Italy 2025.
Among the world’s finest olive oil productions, divided by category and hemisphere, the most coveted nominations for the Northern Hemisphere were awarded as follows: 22 to Italy, 4 to the surprising Morocco, 3 each to Spain and Portugal, 2 each to Israel and Japan, and 1 each to Greece, Turkey, and the United States.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil once again led with 10 nominations, followed by South Africa with 3, and Argentina with 2.
As mentioned, the 2025 medal winners (Gold and Silver) will be revealed on Saturday, May 23, 2025, while the top overall winners will be announced in early June 2025 and published on the official website: evo-iooc.it