Olives hand picking. Photo by Michel Aoun for Solar.
BEIRUT, LEBANON — In a time when our country has endured so much, Solar Olive Oil is proud to announce a Gold Award at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition —one of the most prestigious honors in the industry. This is the third recognition, following a Gold in 2022 and a Silver in 2023. But this year, it means something more.
For founder Karim Arsanios, this win is not just about olive oil. It’s about preservation. “Every award we’ve received has been deeply personal. Over the last five years, we’ve endured economic collapse, political turmoil, and hardship at every turn. But this year’s award carries a different weight. In the wake of war, this is proof that our land still speaks, that our trees still bear fruit, that excellence can endure—even through hardship.”
Solar Olive Oil was named as a tribute to Arsanios’ late mother. “Sol” for the sun. “Ar” for Arsanios. But more than a name, Solar is a testament to the generations that came before—farmers who nurtured the land, protected its soil, and passed down a legacy of stewardship, not exploitation.
“We’re only passing through. The land and olive trees will outlive us all.” This philosophy is woven into everything Solar does. Handpicking each olive to prevent bruising. Rejecting anything damaged or insect-affected before pressing. Learning, refining, and respecting nature’s pace. “We don’t rush the process, because great things take time,” Arsanios says.
Solar’s award-winning olive oil was described by NYIOOC judges as:
“Delicate yet full of flavor, with hints of green apple and red fruits.”
But beyond taste, this win is a symbol. It’s a reminder that in the face of hardship, solidarity grows. That the land is sacred and that it must, with the livelihood of farmers, be protected, North and South.
“Our land is unlike any other. We owe it our care, our protection. That’s what truly matters.”
About Solar Olive Oil
For over 150 years, Solar’s olive trees have been rooted in the alkaline soils of the village of Kour, Northern Lebanon. Passed down through generations, these lands have been nurtured with time-honored practices like terracing, companion planting, and regenerative farming—never chemicals, never shortcuts.
At 450 meters above sea level, cooled by sea winds in the summer and softened by the chill of winter, Solar’s trees grow deep, yielding olives that have defined this land for thousands of years. The “Souri” olive, once exported from Lebanon to the Mediterranean, continues to tell the story of Solar—one of endurance, character, and belonging.
Solar was founded on a common legacy, honoring our ancestors while looking toward the future. A future where farming is sustainable, where the land thrives, where agriculture is not extractive—but regenerative.
www.solarolives.com
Instagram: @solarolives
To know more about the Award: https://bestoliveoils.org/brands/solar