Last preparations in different Italian regions and abroad for regional selections of the 12th edition of the Biol Prize - City of Andria, the international olive oil event that will see in competition the best organic extra-virgin olive oils from around the world, starting from Bari and Andria.
The edition 2007, from 26 April to 13 May, will feature something new: the Biol prize – an event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Bari with the technical coordination of CIBI - will go on the road. Or, better, on sea. In fact, the “hot” days of the competition will take place across the Mediterranean aboard the Victoria Holiday cruiser. The Victoria Cruiser will embark from Rome and, in a week's time, it will stop in Sicily, Greece, Turkey. There will be promotional events, meetings and ceremonies. All this has been mixed to the technical tasting sessions by the International Jury, made up of professional tasters from different olive oil regions in the world. On board, the international olive oil exhibition, meetings, tasting sessions and cultural events will take place for hundreds of people .
For the first time, an olive oil event will actively promote the Mediterranean, a strategic area for olive oil marketing worldwide, thanks to its different stopovers. Thus it will allow to support the olive oil competition concretely with the historical and cultural background of olive growing itself. It is possible to view the Biol programme on the competition web site www.premiobiol.it . The programme will be regularly updated.
However, the Biol award ceremony will take place in Bari on 12 May 2007.
So, there are but few weeks left to register to the competition. In order to do so, fill out the application form on www.premiobil.it or contact the Biol Organizing Committee by phone, fax or e-mail.
The Biol regional selections are about to start. They will take place from the end of March to the beginning of April. The first one was in Campania (13th March), at the Chamber of Commerce of Naples. In the next days, more selections will take place in other Italian regions, as well as in Greece and Spain where the Biol Prize strengthens a prestigious partnership with Ecoliva.
At the end of the regional selections in Italy and abroad the International Jury will taste the olive oils thus shortlisted – last year there were more than 250 olive oils, from 14 different countries. As usual, there different prizes to be awarded: “Biol Prize” to the best quality organic extra-virgin olive oil, bottled at the place of origin and ready for marketing; “Biolpack” to the best design and the most comprehensive labelling; “Biolblended”, a prize for the best oil blend, that is the finished (and hence also bottled) product marketed with a trademark which is not that of the producer but which nevertheless is of certain quality and origin; and other special awards.
The Programme includes a photo contest about olive oil and olives, too, as to say a photo contest dedicated to the protagonists of the rural landscape. This contest is open to professional and amateur photographers of any age. Entrants may present up to three photos, b/w or colour. Images bearing title and full name of the author may be sent to: Segreteria Organizzativa Premio BIOL – CIBI , Via Ottavio Serena, 37, 70126 Bari, Italy. Winners will receive either a cash prize or a prize in olive oil.
Biol Prize is sponsored by AgriBioMediterraneo and the Italian Agriculture Minister and in cooperation with different local authorities such as Regione Puglia, the Municipality of Andria, Aiab Puglia, Icea, Puglia Natura.