The backstage of a tasting at the French Senate

On May 21, 2025, AVPA was welcomed at the French Senate by Senator Marie-Pierre Monier for a tasting of the award-winning olive oils from the 23rd edition of the “World Edible Oils” international competition.

An unusual venue for such an event, but a powerful gesture: bringing exceptional products into the heart of institutions.

Led by olive oil expert Paz Figares, the tasting highlighted the aromatic diversity of the winning oils: green fruitiness, ripe fruit notes, balanced bitterness, and fresh vegetal aromas. Each oil told a story of terroir and craftsmanship.

But beyond the sensory discovery, the main objective was to give visibility to producers committed to quality. By organizing this tasting at the Senate, AVPA reaffirmed its mission to bridge the gap between the field and decision-makers. Gaining recognition for a product also means creating the right conditions for it to be better understood, supported, and valued.

For the Senator, herself familiar with olive groves, this was her first professional tasting—an opportunity to reconnect with her roots while reaffirming her support for a human-scale, demanding, and locally grounded agriculture.

This kind of event is at the core of AVPA’s mission: bringing outstanding products out of the shadows, offering producers a platform, and building tangible connections between agriculture, culture, and public policy.

Behind every competition and every award ceremony lies the same ambition: to promote a vision of agriculture that values quality, craftsmanship, and human stories. And for that, what better way than tasting olive oil in a place where laws are made?

Award winners presentation : https://youtu.be/znsYbOuaPIw