|
03 November 2023
Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au
| |
2023 ‘Best’ announced at Australian International Olive Awards | |
|
The 2023 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) proved beyond doubt the consistently high quality of Australian olive products, with the winners list encompassing very small to large commercial production, and newcomers to industry stalwarts, right across the country.
The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) in Show awards went to Geelong Region Olives’ Bundara View Koroneiki (Commercial Volume) and Cape Schanck Olive Estate’s Picholine (Boutique Volume), both produced in Victoria.
Best Flavoured Olive Oil of Show (Boutique Volume) went to WA producer Marvick Native Farms for its Kaffir Lime and South Australia’s Rio Vista Olives was awarded Best Flavoured Olive Oil of Show (Commercial Volume) for its Mandarin Pressed Olive Oil.
The Table Olive Competition moved the focus to New South Wales, with Best Table Olive in Show (Commercial Volume) going to ALTO Olives’ Misto and the Boutique Volume trophy claimed by Adina Vineyard and Olive Grove for its Hunter Providore Orange & Thyme.
You’ll find all the major awards listed here, where you can also download the complete 2023 AIOA Results Book, with medal results and judges’ tasting notes for all entries.
Congratulations to all of this year’s medal and major award winners!
| |
|
A Productivity Commission review of the basin plan's implementation says major changes are needed to see the plan completed on time. (Supplied: Mark Burgess)
Irrigators have volunteered to sell the federal government nearly twice the volume of water it hoped to purchase from six different valleys in the Murray-Darling Basin, according to Water Minister Tanya Plibersek.
| |
|
Nathan Hersey, mayor of South Gippsland shire council, on his property in Korumburra: ‘It’s clear the wording needed to be cleared up for the general public to understand.’ Photograph: Karli Duckett/Nathan Hersey.
A regional Victorian council has promised to take a “commonsense” approach to proposed local laws that would allow council officers to enforce the height of grass and on private property and demand that “unsightly” materials such as scrap metal and old cars be stowed away, after receiving pushback from farmers.
| |
|
‘End game’ trade deal with EU collapses as both sides walk away
A last-ditch attempt to secure a free trade agreement with the European Union over better access for Australian meat and protections for continental goods has fallen apart before the “end game” negotiations could start, a move that will set any deal with the bloc back years.
| |
|
Earl the kelpie has been named top dog.
Why is Earl the kelpie, the best working dog in Australia and New Zealand? He's fast, he runs long distances, he's smart and he loves a smooch.
A happy story for your day from your Kelpie-loving editor!
| |
Got something to sell? Or want to buy? Go direct to your target market – olive growers and producers | |
If you’ve got something industry-related to sell, you can reach your target market directly with Olivebiz Classifieds. Our online Classifieds service is an easy and inexpensive solution to advertising your unwanted equipment. And if there’s something you’re looking for, it’s the ideal way to get the message out loud and clear to your peers and industry associates – the most likely to have what you need.
Olivebiz Classifieds cost just $40 for AOA members ($100 for non-members), including a text ad and link through to either your web page or images hosted on our site. And you don’t need to be a tech-head: just send us your info and we’ll post it up for you.
Olivebiz Classifieds are online now at www.olivebiz.com.au/classifieds. To arrange a listing, contact Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.
| |
|
Labor’s plan to modernise outdated bush landline phone requirements
For decades, Australians living in rural and regional parts of the country have had access to a landline telephone connection regardless of where they live. But the universal service obligation, delivered by Telstra, has lagged behind technological advances and the infrastructure is ageing.
| |
|
Belle Baker plans to expand Tractoring for Women across the country. (ABC South East SA: Caroline Horn)
A hobby farming training course which teaches women starting out on small acreage the skills and confidence to operate tractors has won a SafeWork SA Award. Tractoring for Women creator Belle Baker said she wanted to expand the program across the country.
| |
|
GROWER TO GROWER
Have a question? Need some advice? Ask a fellow grower!
The FOE team regularly hears from growers with questions about grove or production practices, or equipment, that they just can’t find the answers to. They’re things other producers are likely know about and/or experienced themselves. So we’ve set up a new Friday Olive Extracts feature, Grower to Grower, where you can send your questions and have them answered by your peers.
Just send the details to editor@olivegrower.com.au and we’ll put them out to the Friday Olive Extracts community - that’s thousands of readers across the globe.
| |
|
How Australia's new Pacific Engagement Visa works
A new, first-of-its-kind Australian permanent resident visa will soon be available to people from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste after it was successfully legislated in Parliament last week. Up to 3,000 eligible people from the region will have an opportunity to live and work in Australia each year under the program.
| |
|
Review of ANZSCO Codes (workforce classification)
Australia’s immigration requirements are stringent when it comes to allowing people to live and work here, but right now there’s a chance to have your say on the topic.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is currently reviewing the list of agricultural occupations that make up our labour market - the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). These impact skilled migration programs (such as the Horticultural Industry Labour Agreement) and educational pathways for Australian students.
The ABS is seeking feedback on the accuracy of occupation skill levels and descriptions, and occupations anticipated to emerge or decline in the next five to 10 years.
See the list of occupations under review here (open ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing’), along with information on how to participate.
| |
Canberra Conference … it’s a wrap! | |
|
A great time was had by all last week, as the industry gathered at the Ann Harding Conference Centre in Canberra for the 2023 Australian National Olive Conference & Exhibition. The jam-packed program had delegates learning, questioning, discussing, tasting – and even cooking – as we explored a wide and varied range of topics relating to growing olives, producing olive products and running a successful olive business.
Thanks to all the organisers, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors who made it all happen, and to all the industry members who came along and shared in the experience. It was great to see and speak with you all.
We’ll look forward to catching up again in Bendigo, Victoria next October.
| |
|
The start of the sixth World Olive Picking Championship.
The four-person team of local restaurateurs hand-harvested 48.2 kilograms of olives in the sixth edition of the World Olive Picking Championship.
| |
Hedgerows, also known as living fences, provide numerous benefits for farms and orchards in California. The California Healthy Soils Program funds climate-friendly practices, including planting hedgerows, which have been found to improve carbon sequestration, increase pollinators, reduce erosion and water consumption and facilitate insect management. All of this reduces costs for olive farmers in a low-margin industry. | |
Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news | |
|
The year is racing by and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) continues and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) will continue to bring all the latest industry news and events to your Inbox every week. THE place to share olive industry news, event details and reminders, our industry e-newsletter keeps growing in popularity and we now have nearly 4000 subscribers across the globe. If you’re not one of them, you can sign up here.
And please remember that FOE is YOUR e-newsletter, so we’re keen to receive your news and help spread the word. Just email your information to Editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au - it’s free, and the best way to reach your fellow industry members!
| |
|
Rising prices, new technology attract private equity interest in olive oil
Despite the heat and drought, southern Europe’s olive oil producers have sparked interest from private equity firms. While olive farming and oil production are not usually seen as high-return investments, current conditions in Spain and Portugal and new agricultural technologies and practices have spotlighted the olive oil sector.
| |
|
Photo: Joe Johnston
Could a new green energy source be hiding in our pantries? Food science graduate student Ningjing Hua and fourth-year food science student Kiveli Pandelidis are studying whether the waste from olive production could be used to make biomethane, a clean-burning energy source.
| |
|
The snack-able food that fights pain like aspirin
If you often rely on over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to alleviate your daily aches and pains, you may be familiar with the potential side effects these pills can have, not to mention the long-term health risks they pose. Fortunately, there's a promising and natural alternative that you should consider, and that is olives.
| |
Friday Olive Extracts is Published by: | |
Olivegrower Communications: | |
|
Olivegrower & Processor
September Issue
| |
Australian and New Zealand
Olive Industry Directory
| | | | |
