Varaždin pumpkin seed oil wins four gold medals at the prestigious Monde Selection in Brussels

(Photo: Varaždin County)

by Srecko Mavrek

Producers of Varaždin pumpkin oil won four new gold medals at the 62nd Monde Selection in Brussels, a prestigious worldwide competition in product quality.

Oils from Agroprom Patrcevic Oil Company, Andreja Petrovic OPG, Damir Crleni PG and Cafuk PPP received the highest marks. Excellent news was announced yesterday, April 14, on the Day of Protected Croatian Autochthonous Products in Strmec in Uljara Agroprom Patrcevic.

The members of the Judging Committee, experts including chefs with Michelin stars and members of the French Culinary Academy, were full of praise such as: “excellent pumpkin oil fried to perfection”, “smooth and delicious”, “rich and aromatic taste”.

This is certainly a new, great success for Varaždin pumpkin oil in competition with more than 3,000 products from all over the world. By the way, in the last four years, 12 oils from the Varaždin region were registered and all 12 won gold medals for quality.

There are as many as 17 protected agricultural and food products in Varaždin County, eight of which are at the European and national level. Varaždin cabbage already has the European quality marks, since 2017, and Varaždin klipic since 2020. It is expected that Varaždin pumpkin oil will also receive official protection at the level of the European Union within two months. For oil producers, this means added value, increasing competitiveness, and achieving a higher price on the market.

While PPP Cafuk and PG Crleni won gold for the first time in Brussels, Uljara Agroprom Patrcevic and OPG Andreje Petrovic succeeded in doing so for the second time.

(Photo: Varaždin County)

The secret of the success of Varaždin’s “black gold” was explained by Matija Patrcevic, host and president of the Varaždin Pumpkin Oil Association.

– In the Association, we made a decision that Varaždin pumpkin oil is produced using the hot-pressed process. It is 100 percent pure pumpkin oil, so without the addition of any other, foreign oils. Our “secret” ingredient is complete commitment to work – emphasized Patrcevic. Members of the Association sell all the Varaždin pumpkin oil they produce, and they plan to expand production, and thus sales.

– When people try Varaždin pumpkin oil, they remember its quality and return to it. The customers are the ones who keep us going and give us the incentive to continue doing this business and improve quality – said Andreja Petrovic.

Damir Crleni, the president of the Croatian Chefs Association, was also proud.

– I wanted to give my own product to gastronomy, which I have been dealing with all my life. I am glad that some restaurants and hotels in the area of Varaždin and Koprivnica-Križeva County have Varaždin pumpkin oil in their daily offer, and I hope others will follow their example – said Crleni.

(Photo: Varaždin County)

Marija Cafuk pointed out that behind everything there is a lot of work and effort. – Varaždin pumpkin oil and Varaždin cabbage are an excellent match. Therefore, we will continue to strive to make our products as high quality as possible, and accordingly recognizable on the increasingly demanding market – said Marija Cafuk.

PPP Cafuk Award 2023 – (Vidovec/Facebook)

Monde Selection is an annual awards created in 1961. It is run by the commercial company, International Institute for Quality Selections, Brussels, Belgium.