The International Competition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil "Terraolivo" (Mediterranean International E.V.Olive Oil Competition) will take place in the Olive Tree Hotel Jerusalem, June 7-14, 2015. The Terraolivo competition is the third in importance in the global olive oil market graded by the EVOO World Ranking System (World Ranking Extra Virgin Olive Oil). There will be more than 500 samples to taste from 17 different countries. The competition also offers participants the opportunity to tour the north and south of Israel as well as more in depth half-day tours of Jerusalem.

Olive oil cultivation began in Crete and spread to Syria and the land of Israel approximately 5000 BCE. Commercial networks and farming knowledge extended the trade to Southern Turkey, Cyprus and then Egypt. King Solomon and King David placed great importance on the cultivation of olive trees; King David even had guards watching over the olive groves and warehouses, ensuring the safety of the trees and their precious oil.

Until 1500 BCE Greece, particularly Mycenae, was the area most heavily cultivated. With the expansion of the Greek colonies, olive culture reached Southern Italy and Northern Africa in the 8th century BCE, and then spread into Southern France, Spain and Portugal. Olive trees were planted in the entire Mediterranean basin under Roman rule. Spanish missionaries planted the first olives in America in the 16th century CE.

Homer called olive oil “liquid gold”, and in ancient Greece, athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. Olive oil has been more than mere food to the people of the Mediterranean, it has been medicinal, as well as a source of great wealth and power for some. In addition, the olive tree has been a symbol of abundance, glory and peace.