For 25 years, Styrian pumpkin seed oil has been evaluated by a jury according to strict criteria, specifically tested for color, purity, consistency and, of course, taste. Black Gold was submitted 502 times by local producers. The result is worth its weight in gold: after a hundred professionals spent four days blind-tasting the samples, 89% were able to take home the "Gold Award" and put it on their bottles. 277 achieved the absolute maximum number of points.

And five of the applicants, it should be noted, have made it onto the best list for the entire 25 years! "It's simply the togetherness in the family that leads to success," says Elke Hahn from Kalsdorf. And: "The good relationships with our customers spur us on." Three oil mills, Hamlitsch from Deutschlandsberg, Kiendler from St. Georgen/Stifing and Kremsner from Großklein, also made it onto the podium. Claudia Großschädl from Kalsdorf, when asked about her secret: "Everything just has to be right, cultivation, cultivation care, washing, drying, storage, pressing." But why are they better at the "Eitzerl" than others? "There's also a bit of luck involved," she smiles.

Last year's production was actually under disastrous stars: the many weather caprices, as reported, the lack of pickling. "As a result, the harvest was below average," summarizes Franz Labugger, Chairman of the Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil Association. The area under cultivation even fell dramatically from 11,210 hectares in 2022 or even 16,745 in 2016 to 7873 hectares! The problems have also led to a lack of willingness to grow pumpkins in many cases. But, emphasize the Ölgranden and chamber boss Franz Titschenbacher: there would be enough seeds in the warehouses from the previous year. And the price would remain stable despite rising costs for energy, bottles and wages, especially as a certain upper limit has been reached. We are already noticing a slump in purchases abroad. Or a certain saving behavior - for example, when bakers sprinkle fewer grains on their rolls than before.

But, as Franz Labugger puts it: "No matter where you go, you immediately associate pumpkin seed oil with Styria, it's our flagship product. The landscape, the cuisine, the people - we can be proud of that."

Cultures earlier on

It is possible that Styrian farmers are starting cultivation much earlier this year because it is so warm. Certain crops are weeks earlier than they used to be! "This affects all crops, but most of all stone fruit such as peaches, apricots and plums," says Herbert Muster, fruit-growing expert at the Chamber of Agriculture. Which in itself would not be so bad, "as the warmth is good for the trees, as long as there is enough moisture in the soil". The year 2007, in which apple trees were already in full bloom at the end of March and no more cold weather followed, brought a super harvest. However, as we know from previous years, the consequences of a late frost can be fatal.