• L’Olivera and La Cooperativa La Granadella have scored over 90 points in the EVOOLEUM Guide, ranking in the top twenty limited-production oils and in the top one hundred best oils in the world

The Lleida region is famous for its olive oil, especially Arbequina extra virgin olive oil. For this reason, it comes as no surprise that the oils of two Catalan cooperatives, L’Olivera from Vallbona de les Monges and La Cooperativa La Granadella, from the town of the same name, have been selected among the best Catalan Arbequina extra virgin olive oils in the world at the EVOOLEUM Awards.

On the one hand, L’Olivera’s Oli de Finques has been recognised as one of the twenty best limited-production extra virgin olive oils in the world. With 94 points, it is the highest-scoring Catalan extra virgin olive oil. On the other hand, La Cooperativa La Granadella has placed two of its Degustus Arbequina extra virgin olive oils among the top one hundred in the world: Degustus Organic with 90 points and Degustus Special Selection with 92 points, the latter recognised as the best Arbequina variety oil.

In this context, today, 3 December 2025, the two cooperatives travelled to Madrid for the EVOOLEUM Gala to receive their awards and showcase their product and the cooperative model they promote. Their joint presence reflects the collaboration they maintain, as well as the values they share.

The EVOOLEUM Awards, organised by Mercacei and the EVOOLEUM Guide, have established themselves as one of the leading international competitions in the field of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), with a jury made up of internationally renowned professional tasters who assess the organoleptic quality of hundreds of oils from around the world.

A promising 2025 outlook for extra virgin olive oil from Ponent

This November, once again, L’Olivera and La Granadella launched the new olive harvest campaign with positive figures in terms of cultivated area and production volume. “The olives are at their optimal ripening point, which means a higher fat content yield and therefore more oil per olive”; moreover, “this year’s harvest also stands out for the excellent phytosanitary condition of the olives, allowing us to obtain high-quality oils,” explains Ramon Barrull, president of La Cooperativa La Granadella.

On the one hand, L’Olivera manages 18 hectares of dryland olive groves in Vallbona de les Monges, the historic core of the cooperative’s agricultural activity. It also works 4 hectares in Can Calopa (Collserola), some of which are being restored thanks to the agreement with Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, promoting the social and sustainable management of the municipal estate. As for the harvest, this year’s forecasts place Vallbona’s own production at between 15,000 and 20,000 kg of olives, while in Can Calopa the expected intake ranges between 3,000 and 5,000 kg. To complete the campaign and ensure the production of its organic oils, L’Olivera will also purchase 30,000–40,000 kg of organic olives from trusted suppliers.

In addition, this season the machinery at the Vallbona de les Monges mill has been upgraded to better receive and clean the olives and produce high-expression oils. “In 2024, we produced the best extra virgin olive oil in Catalonia and one of the best Arbequina oils in the world, Oli de Finques; we continue working to ensure a distinctive, high-quality product made through sustainable processes,” highlights Pau Moragas, Head of Production.

Meanwhile, the approximately 200 members of La Cooperativa La Granadella cultivate 1,200 hectares of dryland and irrigated olive groves. A harvest of up to 5,000,000 kg of olives is expected, representing an increase in oil production compared to the previous year. The municipality’s climatic conditions, together with its altitude of over 500 metres, give its oils a distinctive character and identity.

In 2023, the Granadella cooperative inaugurated a new mill with 2,300 m² facilities to produce its oil. The new mill can process up to 200 tonnes of olives per day, increasing production capacity from the previous 90 tonnes per day. Notably, with this new machinery the time between the arrival of the olives and oil extraction has been reduced by 4 to 5 hours, resulting in a higher-quality product that retains all the aromas and properties of the olive.

L’Olivera and La Granadella: a story of intercooperation

L’Olivera and La Granadella are two historic cooperatives from the Ponent region, with more than one hundred years of experience producing under the values of the social and solidarity economy.

For over ten years, the two cooperatives have combined their expertise to create a high-quality extra virgin olive oil with added value, designed for everyday consumption — “The everyday oil”. It is produced by La Granadella and marketed by L’Olivera.