The New York International Olive Oil Competion 2019, the biggest competition in the world on extra virgin olive oil, organized by the magazine Olive Oil Times, has crowned Puglia as a leading region for the production of quality EVO oil. "It is a very important recognition for a region that in 2018 saw a dramatic drop in production, even more than 58% of the national average, due to the frost and the Xylella crisis", explained David Granieri, president of Unaprol, the Italian olive oil consortium -. It is a fundamental confirmation for Puglia and for the whole Italian olive-growing sector, which has always been a leader and reference point in the world for quality and biodiversity with 533 cultivars that represent our true wealth and the primacy of recognition in the EU with 46 Pod or Pgi oils , almost 40% of the total. The awards coming from New York confirm our conviction: it is necessary to build a new cultural model, by communicating more and better with consumers and by promoting the culture of extra virgin olive oil, the true flag of Made in Italy in the world”.