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Olio Capitale 2013 in Trieste attracted a record numÂber of visÂiÂtors and interÂnaÂtional parÂticÂiÂpants, showÂcasÂing the celÂeÂbraÂtion of olive oil culÂture at a high level. The event focused on the Mediterranean diet, feaÂtured cookÂery classes, and conÂcluded with the Concorso Olio Capitale comÂpeÂtiÂtion, where Italian regions like Tuscany and Puglia stood out as top winÂners.

The speÂcialÂist Italian trade fair, held in the city of Trieste, played host to a record numÂber of visÂiÂtors and attracted even greater interÂnaÂtional involveÂment than preÂviÂous years.
Olio Capitale 2013, one of the only trade events dedÂiÂcated entirely to olive oil attractÂing around 10,500 visÂiÂtors through the doors of its new venue, the Stazione Marittima, located in the city cenÂter. Those attendÂing included peoÂple from all walks of life from olive oil buyÂers from around the globe to memÂbers of the genÂeral pubÂlic interÂested in learnÂing more about olive oil culÂture, orgaÂnizÂers said.
President of the Trieste chamÂber of comÂmerce Antonio Paoletti described the event as not only a trade fair where buyÂers from all over the world come to deal with proÂducÂers, but also a celÂeÂbraÂtion of olive oil at the very highÂest level. The event, which was conÂcluded March 4th, is said to have also brought benÂeÂfits for the city, which is a hub for European trade.
The focus of this year’s expo was the Mediterranean diet, with speÂcial attenÂtion also paid to prodÂuct qualÂity and the unique uses for olive oil in transÂformÂing the munÂdane into someÂthing speÂcial in the culiÂnary world. Particularly popÂuÂlar were the cookÂery classes held in conÂjuncÂtion with the Italian National Federation of chefs, which saw the parÂticÂiÂpaÂtion of over 3,000 peoÂple throughÂout the duraÂtion of the show with around 100 parÂticÂiÂpants attendÂing each demonÂstraÂtion given by a local chef.
Business interÂacÂtions were also fruitÂful, with the expo proÂvidÂing a unique opporÂtuÂnity for proÂducÂers and buyÂers to meet. 231 comÂpaÂnies, rangÂing from small bouÂtique proÂducÂers to large supÂpliÂers, disÂplayed their prodÂucts this year and vast quanÂtiÂties of busiÂness meetÂings were conÂducted between exhibitors and buyÂers from speÂcific tarÂget marÂkets from Europe and around the world throughÂout the event.
Perhaps the highÂlight of Olio Capitale 2013, was the Concorso Olio Capitale comÂpeÂtiÂtion. Winners were announced on the final day of trade. Tuscany was a stand-out region, boastÂing six of the top fifÂteen finalÂists, howÂever Puglia was the biggest winÂner of the day takÂing four of the seven prizes on offer. Sardinia and Sicily also took home prizes for their top oils.
Although the oils makÂing up the final places were pre-selected by a judgÂing panel, all potenÂtial extra virÂgin olive oil conÂsumers were repÂreÂsented in the final judgÂing. A total of three panÂels made up respecÂtively of chefs and restauÂraÂteurs, proÂfesÂsional testers and memÂbers of the genÂeral pubÂlic were responÂsiÂble for selecÂtion of the winÂners on the day.
This year saw the biggest interÂnaÂtional conÂtinÂgent to parÂticÂiÂpate yet, with 20 perÂcent of the oils heraldÂing from outÂside of Italy. However, the host counÂtry was still the big winÂner when it came to the comÂpeÂtiÂtion, resoundÂingly choÂsen by the judges over oils from Spain, Portugal, Greece and Israel.