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Valorisation of side product in pumpkin oil production

Mojca Polak, VGST

Jan 16, 2024

KOCBEK OIL MILL, Gorazd Kocbek s.p.
Stara Gora 1
SI-9244 Sv. Jurij ob Ščavnici

Gorazd Kocbek adapted the operation strategy of the family oil mill to the conditions on the Slovenian and global gastronomic market. Due to its increasing popularity on the market, pumpkin oil often began to lose its original taste and quality. Traditionally produced pumpkin oil has been losing the battle with cheap pumpkin oil imported from China. In the field of gastronomy, due to the extremely successful promotion of the Mediterranean diet, the use of olive oil prevailed. Oljarna Kocbek thus decided to expand its range of oils and other products made from side products in oil production.


For traditional pumpkin oil, which is a pillar of Slovenian cuisine, we need 4 to 5 kg of dry pumpkin seeds for 1 L of pumpkin oil. During the production itself, 70% of the by-product, from the seed coat, which is called prga, is produced after the oil is extracted. Prga was sold cheaply for animal feed. Gorazd Kocbek took advantage of the challenge. In cooperation with the school restaurant Sedem, he developed a macaron made of prga and gourmet chips. Both products became bestsellers in the company's online store.

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