Six hundred sixty-two bottles of extra virgin olive oil from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa arrived in Athens this spring for the 11th ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition, underscoring how rapidly olive cultivation is spreading beyond the Mediterranean.
For the first time, producers from Pakistan and Azerbaijan entered the contest, while judges from 12 countries evaluated oils protected from heat, light and cold.
The competition’s top award went to Maselli Coratina, produced in Bari, southern Italy.
Greek oils made up 43% of entries, yet only six received the highest distinction, a double gold medal, out of 63 awarded overall.
The results reflect a changing global market. World olive oil production has climbed from 1.9 million tons in 2005-06 to 3.5 million tons in 2024-25, driven partly by the product’s association with the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health.
