San Miguel Olive Farm also enjoyed a good year at the competition, winning two Gold Awards.
Richard and Myrna Meisler
Richard and Myrna Meisler, the husband and wife team behind San Miguel Olive Farm, were in attendance at the awards ceremony on Friday. Meisler told Olive Oil Times that even though they have won in the past, it was very exciting to be called up to receive their awards in person.
“We were overwhelmed with joy in winning two gold medals,” he said. “What an honor this was, Being the first producer called up by Curtis Cord to receive an award, was a fun surprise. Our hearts were beating rapidly with heartfelt emotion.”
These awards are history, and build the foundation for our business. The NYIOOC validates the quality of our product.- Richard Meisler, San Miguel Olive Farm
As with many other producers in California and other parts of the olive oil world, the Meislers had to cope with California’s bad weather. The springtime freezes and heat wave caused their oil to taste a bit different than in previous years, but not lose any quality.
“With a blended oil, some varietals were heavier than others, thus producing quite a different tasting oil,” he said. “Our blend this year was more bitter, with very high total polyphenol count. The oils are not too buttery, have a lingering bitterness, medium intensity with a crescendo of a peppery finish.”
Meisler added that the two Gold Awards make marketing his olive oils as a healthy product even easier.
Richard and Myrna Meisler
“The impact for this win solidifies the quality of our product,” he said. “The marketing will be very direct, being a healthful extra virgin olive oil. Our Tuscan Gold Supremo and Tuscan Gold Eleganza are certified by the best judges in the world as being extra virgin olive oil. Oils with total high polyphenols, high oleic acid are certified by the FDA for cardio health.”
Richard and Myrna Meisler agree with Baker about the influence the New York awards can have on a producer’s brand and business. The two co-own the San Miguel Olive Farm, which was among the most successful American producers of the competition, receiving two Gold awards and two Silver awards.
“[We feel] elated, acknowledged and appreciated,” Meisler said. “[This will have] a huge impact. These awards are history, and build the foundation for our business. The NYIOOC validates the quality of our product.”
Myrna and Richard Meisler, San Miguel Olive Farm
San Miguel Olive Farm from United States has won a staggering three Gold Awards at the 2020 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world’s most prestigious olive oil quality contest.
Elation to the max! Tears in our eyes, another step forward for San Miguel Olive Farm. We are proud and grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the largest EVOO competition in the world.
Richard and Myrna Meisler, Owners, San Miguel Olive Farm
The California-based company’s winning oils were: Tuscan Gold Eleganza Elite and Tuscan Gold Nectar Bravo, both medium blends; and Tuscan Gold Paradiso, a robust blend.
Company owners Richart and Myrna Meisler described their reaction on hearing the news of the win as “elation to the max!”
“Tears in our eyes, another step forward for San Miguel Olive Farm,” they said. “We are proud and grateful for this opportunity to be a part of the largest EVOO competition in the world. We can continue to educate about the health benefits of high-polyphenol olive oil”.
This is the fourth year running that the company, which farms its 1200 trees using traditional methods, has placed in the competition. The three wins bring San Miguel Olive Farm’s total number of awards to 11.
The Meisler's noted that they were helped by favorable weather conditions this year.
“A decent rainy season allowed us to dry farm while replacing all of our irrigation. Smaller olives and less oil. More costly harvesting by hand this year,” they said.
The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held each spring in New York, is the world’s largest and most prestigious olive oil contest and its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.