6. Turkey
Points – 10
At the border between Europe and Asia sits Turkey, the perfect place to grow olives given the Mediterranean climate. Out of the 20 different Turkish olive oils entered in the New York competition three brought home gold medals and one a silver medal. The country exports about 35,000 tons of olive oil annually, out of the estimated 190,000 tons it produces. Most of the olive oil imported by the United States comes from several countries, including Turkey.
The country has a long history of growing olive trees. There are an estimated 250 million olive trees in Turkey, a country of some 73 million people, most of which grow close to the Aegean Sea. There are multiple varieties growing in the country, but Ayvalik seems to be the most used.
