It’s time to jump online, fill out the forms and package those bottles, with entry now open for the 2021 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA).

Following the success of the 2020 format, the 2021 event will once again involve both national and international judging panels across the globe.

Benefits of entering include:

Entries now open 

Entries close 3 September 

Medal winners announced 4 October 2021 via email

Major award winners announced 15 October at 2021 AIOA Gala Presentation in Devonport. 

*Due to the ongoing COVID19 situation and the uncertainty regarding postage delivery times, entrants are urged to send oils as soon as they are ready.

Find out more and enter here.

A Victorian table grape company that supplies fruit to domestic and international markets is in strife with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for misleading customers about the origins of its product.

A new national biosecurity website – www.biosecurity.gov.au -has been created to support Australians in finding the information we need to play our role in protecting our country from harmful pests, diseases and weeds.

The website brings together biosecurity resources from the Australian, state and territory governments, industries and non-government agencies. Growers can use the website to access advice and information for reporting and managing biosecurity risks.

Access the website and its resources here. 

2021/22 Australian Olive Association Membership Renewals now due 

Australian Olive Association (AOA) membership renewal time is here and 2021-22 invoices have just been issued.

Membership fees enable the AOA to continue its important work protecting our industry; promoting our products; and assisting members to maximise their productivity, profitability and sustainability. 

Your membership fees fund: work in government relations, advocacy and representation on issues impacting our industry; affiliations and taskforces with other horticultural/ agricultural industries to address shared problems; AOA management of the olive industry biosecurity program and responsibility for other risk minimization and crisis management activities across the industry - essential activities which often go under the radar.

The AOA promotes the olive industry’s products through its digital and PR programs, the Australian International Olive Awards, Food and Health Media events, and the operation of the OliveCare® program. Industry productivity is supported through communications and extension programs including electronic, digital, and hard copy communications, along with seminars, field days, and workshops on practical aspects of the business.

Current membership also provides access to 2021-22 discounts on AOA events and Australian International Olive Awards entry fees, and for OliveCare® signatories the continuing use of your approved certification.

Please look for your renewal invoice in your inbox and support the industry body which supports your business. If you haven’t received it, or need to update your details, please email Liz Bouzoudis at secretariat@australianolives.com.au.

An innovative new pilot project in Adelaide’s southern suburbs is removing feral olive trees from national parks and turning them into a product which is helping grow grapes at McLaren Vale vineyards. This is the first time in South Australia that feral olive trees from Onkaparinga River National Park and Glenthorne National Park - Ityamaiitpinna Yarta are being used to create biochar, a product which can help retain nutrients, improve soil structure and increase water-holding capacity of soils.

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 – like Michael, who’s selling harvesting equipment - or extra oil, like Colleen’s ‘fresh and vibrant’ 2021 EVOO. 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.

Victoria's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been granted more power to hold polluters to account. The Environment Protection Act 2017 increases maximum penalties for serious offences.

Current lockdown restrictions in many areas remind us all that it’s important to keep up with the changing status of pandemic regulations across the country. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

For terms and conditions and further information please contact Ben on 0422850699 or Greg on 0407599409, or email newmed.olives@gmail.com

Fears that farmers are being hurt by a lack of independent competition in the repair of farm machinery have been raised in another major report to the federal government.

Farmers are being reassured cuts to the number of rural financial counselling providers across the country won't affect on-the-ground services. There will now be 10 such services around Australia, after two of the existing 12 were told their applications for another three-year funding round from the Commonwealth had been unsuccessful.

The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance is seeking feedback on the principles underpinning regenerative agriculture in Australia.  

They have arrived at eight principles using a global meta-analysis of regenerative agriculture principles around the world. These principles have been adapted for an Australian context and presented for feedback to leading regenerative agricultural practitioners and groups around the country.

This survey for the wider agricultural community is the last step in defining the principles and gathering the wisdom from regenerative practitioners who are working on the ground in ever-evolving and adaptive ways. 

Take the survey here.

The Federal Government is seeking submissions from interested stakeholders on options for further enhancing Australia’s highly successful Pacific labour mobility initiatives, the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).

A discussion paper has been developed to provide an overview of the current programs and settings, and is available on the consultation website here, where you’ll also find more information on how to make a submission.

The consultation period closes on Sunday, 18 July.

The fourth Modern Olives sensory masterclass will take place online this year, being held over two morning sessions on August 19 and 20. The course will cover a wide range of topics, including: better understanding of the relationship between fruit handling, milling and oil managing on final sensory quality; sensory attributes identification and intensity scoring; better understanding of different attributes from the same variety from different origin; and much more. 

The event will be hosted by sensory expert Claudia Guillaume, with guest speaker Pablo Canamasas. 

More information here.

Register now by emailing info@modernolives.com.au or call 03 5272 9570

Presented by the Australian Olive Association’s OliveCare® Code of Best Practice Administrator Peter McFarlane over the next six weeks, three AOA OliveCare® Best Practice webinars are of value to all olive growers, processors and marketers of olive products, whether current members of the OliveCare® program or not.  

Each is being run as a one hour Zoom meeting, with a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute interactive Q&A session providing opportunity to clarify queries or issues.

The first two webinars have already been held, with the third coming up in a couple of weeks: 

Registration: attendees must register to gain access to the webinar, with a link to the session provided upon sign-up. Registration is FREE for all attendees – sign up here.

You’ll find further details on the OliveBiz website here or contact Liz Bouzoudis - secretariat@australianolives.com.au, 0478 606 145.

A supplement made from polyphenols from olives and flavonoids from oranges will be given to patients to try and alleviate the symptoms associated with long Covid.

The regional government of Andalusia, Spain’s largest olive growing region, is partnering with rural development groups to promote the growth of olive oil tourism in a push to diversify the local economy.

There's a battle royale in the California olive oil industry. On one side is the state's largest olive oil company, California Olive Ranch. On the other side is the majority of California’s olive oil makers. What is the dust-up about and what - if anything - does it mean for the olive oil consumer?

The International Olive Council (IOC) presented its plan to create an online information hub named the World Olive Oil Observatory at the 56th meeting of its advisory council. The IOC said the platform will be developed to organize and share sector-related information.

We’re now half-way through 2021, and Friday Olive Extracts (FOE) continues 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!

The new CAP will provide increased flexibility to member states, increase funding for small farmers and apply more stringent environmental requirements to aid payments.

Ahead of the pending approval of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) this week, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Food has pledged support for traditional olive growers.

Closing date for entry forms and samples, AGOA – NE VIC

OliveCare® Best Practice Webinar 3: Table Olives/Olive Paste Production

Entries open, 2021 Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards

Soil Health and Biology Masterclass 2021

Entries close, 2021 Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards

Entries open Olives NZ EVOO Awards – New Zealand

Sensory Masterclass in Olive Oil - online

Entries open, 2021 WA Olive Awards

Results announced, AGOA – NE VIC

AGOA Presentation Dinner – Wangaratta, VIC

Entries close, 2021 WA Olive Awards

Entries close Olives NZ EVOO Awards – New Zealand

Olives NZ EVOO Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

Results announced, 2021 WA Olive Awards

To include your event, or update your existing event details, email FOE editor Gerri Nelligan at editor@olivegrower.com.au

Friday Olive Extracts Editorial editor@olivegrower.com.au

Advertising: editor@olivegrower.com.au

Subscribe to Olivegrower & Processor magazine secretariat@australianolives.com.au