The Sicilian cooperative earned recognition for a medium-intensity monovarietal Cerasuola extra virgin olive oil.
Olive Oil Times |
Sciacca, Italy — La Madre Terra has been awarded a Silver at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Madreterra Organic Cerasuola brand.
"Receiving a gold award is a huge gratification for all those involved in the organization of the production process, the administration, the partners, the workers, the families. An acknowledgement of the hard work throughout the year, the passion and love for a high-quality extra virgin olive oil makes us understand that we are on the right path.," said Andrea Louise Reardon, ceo at La Madre Terra .
Madreterra Organic Cerasuola is an extra virgin olive oil of medium intensity, produced exclusively from the Cerasuola cultivar. Distinguished by notes of walnut, celery and apple, Madreterra Organic Cerasuola reflects a sensory profile shaped by the variety’s character and careful production aimed at preserving freshness.
Founded in 1944 by Accursio Miraglia, La Madre Terra is rooted in a formative chapter of Sicily’s rural history. Miraglia was killed by the mafia three years after establishing the cooperative, and farmers continued the work, transforming large estates into fertile and productive olive groves. Today, the cooperative counts around 300 members and oversees about 1,200 hectares planted with olive trees in the Sciacca region, an area delimited by the Val di Mazara PDO, where native varieties such as Cerasuola, Biancolilla and Nocellara have grown for centuries.
The 2026 Silver adds to La Madre Terra’s record at the NYIOOC. The producer has earned two awards overall, including one Gold and one Silver, with a Gold received in 2025.
The NYIOOC result also reinforces La Madre Terra’s standing in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where La Madre Terra is ranked #54 in Italy, #93 in the Northern Hemisphere and #96 Worldwide.
The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, widely regarded as the world's leading olive oil quality contest, is a trusted reference for consumers and industry professionals.