TASTE is a prestigious bi-annual selection of top trendsetting products. The TASTE jury is composed of independent international journalists who judge products by flavor, quality and originality as well as on visual appeal, packaging and user-friendliness. 1,100 products were submitted by more than 500 companies. Only 61 products in ten categories were chosen to receive the influential TASTE 07 award.
Beside the outstanding gourmet taste and quality, the jury was impressed by the social aspects and the sustainability of the ARGAND’OR Argan oil production. ARGAND’OR Argan oil is entirely hand-crafted by Berber women cooperatives in the rural villages of southwest Morocco, using century-old artisan manufacturing methods. After hand-harvesting and sun-drying the Argan fruit, the nuts are opened with stone tools to remove the oil-rich seeds. Next, the seeds are lightly roasted and crushed in traditional stone mills. With this ancient cold pressing technique, flavor and nutrients are retained, resulting in Argan oil of highest possible quality. Quality control, fine filtering and bottling are conducted in a USDA certified organic facility in Germany.
By choosing to continue with the time-honored tradition of hand-crafting Argan oil, the twenty-two Women Cooperatives unified in the U.C.F.A. (Union des Cooperatives des Femmes de l’Arganeraie) create jobs in the rural Arganeraie, an impoverished semi-desert which is the only area where endangered Argan trees survive. The movement of self-governed democratic women cooperatives is flourishing thanks to the international success and the fair trade prices paid for hand-crafted ARGAND’OR Argan oil. Today, the existence of more than six-thousand family members is secured by hand-producing ARGAND’OR Argan oil. Furthermore, the production and international sales of ARGAND’OR Argan oil increases the value of the UNESCO protected Argan tree. Argan oil production for the international markets discourages illegal logging, helping UNESCO in the effort to save the tree from extinction.
The TASTE 07 award is the second major award ARGAND’OR Argan oil received in 2007. Earlier this year, the International Taste & Quality Institute, a leading independent organization of Chefs and Sommeliers, presented ARGAND’OR with the “Superior Taste Award”. In 2006, ODE Magazine selected ARGAND’OR Argan oil as one of ODE Magazine's ORGANIC 17 – "Ode's pick of the best, most innovative, inspiring and sustainable products and companies around the world". And in 2005, the year when ARGAND’OR was first introduced in Europe, the product won the "Product of the Year Award" at BioFach, the world's leading trade event for organic foods.
ARGAND'OR Argan Oil is a rare, healthy and most delectable gourmet oil cherished by food aficionados. Epicureans use the light and nutty flavor of ARGAND'OR Argan oil for a stunning variety of dishes, including hors d'oeuvre, hot and cold soups and salads, fish and seafood, lamb and beef, poultry, vegetarian dishes and even desserts. Health enthusiasts appreciate the high amount of anti-oxidant tocopherols as well as the rare plant sterol combination in Argan oil.
About World Artisan Guild:
World Artisan Guild LLC is the exclusive US importer of ARGAND'OR Argan oil. ARGAND'OR is the only Argan oil available in the USA that is entirely hand-crafted by the UCFA Berber Women Cooperatives of the UNESCO protected Arganeraie. ARGAND'OR is a product of fair trade practices. The oil is cold pressed in stone mills, does not contain any additives and is certified 100% USDA organic.
Contact:
Stefan Hauke
World Artisan Guild LLC
633 W Wisconsin Avenue, Ste. 700
Milwaukee, WI 5303
Direct Line: (414) 431-3810
stefan@worldartisanguild.com
Cologne, Germany– October 12, 2007
ANUGA, the leading international trade show serving the food and beverage sector announced today the winners of this year’s TASTE 07 award. ARGAND’OR Argan oil, the only gourmet Argan oil available in the USA that is entirely hand-crafted by Berber Women Cooperatives, was selected as one of only four winners in the “Organic World” category.
