Parts of northern New South Wales that flooded twice earlier this year are forecast to miss the heaviest rainfall from a weather system that could bring "a month's worth of rain in a few days" to some parts of the state, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

More beekeepers are preparing to have their hives destroyed after new detections of varroa mite were found at multiple sites across New South Wales, as authorities also consider a plan to poison feral bee populations.

Farmers who have ensured native bee populations are booming on their orchards are breathing a sigh of relief, with the insect immune from the biosecurity emergency involving a hive-killing mite. 

The new financial year has arrived so AOA membership renewals will be issued today. Membership of the national industry body provides a wealth of direct benefits, including:

Please keep your eye on your Inbox and pay your renewal promptly to ensure your continued eligibility for these and many more significant member discounts. 

Find out more and apply to join at the AOA website - www.australianolives.com.au – or contact Administration Manager Elizabeth Bouzoudis at secretariat@australianolives.com.au.

Hi-tech trapping is helping growers to home in on invasive pests and reduce reliance on chemicals.

The technological fly trap uses the same fingerprint ID as a smartphone to detect specific pests and was designed to help manage Australian fruit fly.

While most restrictions have eased across the country, it’s still important to keep up with the remaining pandemic regulations for particular situations. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

Rapid antigen tests - or RATs as they're more commonly known now - have become a staple of pandemic life. But did you know that if you eat, drink, brush your teeth or smoke in the 30 minutes before taking a saliva rapid test, it can affect your results?

A major Victorian food processor has slashed its reliance on coal and gas by more than 40 per cent by turning potato waste into power and investing in solar. McCain Foods' Ballarat plant has built a cogeneration biodigester on site, which creates an energy-rich gas by placing organic materials into an airtight container to break down.

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.

KPMG is assisting the nbn in informing its industry engagement and communications strategy in driving digital participation in Australia.

Growers and industry members are to participate in a survey regarding digital participation across several key sectors - agriculture, education, arts, tourism, healthcare and small and medium businesses.

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. 

All feedback will be anonymous and handled in accordance with the KPMG and nbn privacy policies. Access the survey here.

In August 2021, Hong Kong passed a bill to charge for municipal solid waste to encourage consumers and businesses to reduce waste. There are plans to implement these charges in the second half of 2023. There may be implications for Australian suppliers. Find out more here. 

Ready to break into international markets to sell your food and agribusiness products but don't know where to start? Develop your export strategy by using Austrade’s sector-specific '4 Key Steps to Exporting' email series as a starting point.

Sign up here.

Entries open today for the 2022 Royal Adelaide Olive Awards, run by Olives South Australia (Olives SA) in conjunction with the Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia. One of the earliest on the Australian calendar, the long-running state competition invites entries from producers across the country.

The results announcement coincides with the start of the annual Royal Adelaide Show, where the Olives SA stand in the food pavilion showcases the competition winners to tens of thousands of consumers.

Entries open: 1 July

Entries close: 5 August

Results announced: 31 August

More information and links to RAS entry: www.olivessouthaustralia.org.au.

In response to the success of last year’s events, Cobram Estate is continuing its virtual tasting sessions in 2022 and introducing a second format to extend the reach. The popular Introductory Tasting will once again open the world of EVOO flavours, versatility and health benefits to new consumers, while the new Advanced Tasting session will take the sensory experience up a notch with a focus on premium oils and culinary uses.

The Introductory Tasting will be presented by Cobram Estate Co-Founder and Chairman Rob McGavin, Chief Oil Maker Leandro Ravetti and nutrition expert Dr Joanna McMillan, along with Cobram Estate ambassador and AFL legend Nick Riewoldt, and will include: 

Date: 23 August, 7-8pm AEST

Price: $12, including tasting kit and delivery 

Register here.

The Advanced Tastings will be presented by Chief Oil Maker Leandro Ravetti and renowned chef Neil Perry, and takes EVOO knowledge to the next level through:

Dates: 26 July and 20 September, 7-8pm AEST

Price: $15, including tasting kit and delivery

Register here. 

Note: registration closes two weeks prior to each event. 

These events are a great opportunity to extend your palate with oils and varieties other than your own, and to update or refresh your tasting skills. They’re also an inexpensive and accessible foray into the nuances of Australian EVOO for others in your networks, promoting the flavours and benefits of high quality, fresh local EVOO.

The 2022 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is now open for entries, offering the chance to be named Best EVOO, Flavoured Oil or Table Olive of Show from a growing field of high-calibre international entries.

The AIOA prides itself on judging excellence, with all entries assessed and awarded on merit and all entrants receiving comprehensive judging feedback. Successful judging also provides eligibility for OliveCare® certification.

Other benefits include a listing in the 2022 AIOA Results Book, a great marketing tool for all medal and award winners, and NEW in 2022, the opportunity to purchase the professional product images taken for the Results Book, which can be used for social media, website and print media purposes.

For the 2022 competition the Best of Show awards for flavoured olive oil and table olives will also now be split into commercial and boutique volume categories, meaning there are now six chances to win a coveted Best of Show award.

Entries open: 1 June

Entries close: 26 August

Medal winners announced: 3 October (via email)

Major awards announced: 2022 AIOA Gala Presentation, 14 October.

The AIOA offers an unprecedented opportunity for international recognition of winning products and producers. Don’t delay – find out more and enter here. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day is observed on September 30 every year. Although you may think that every day is the day of olive oil, there is one special day to celebrate one of the most sophisticated creations in the market.

Two studies demonstrated that milling olive leaves with the olives improved the oil’s sensory attributes in industrial and small-scale experiments.

Glenn County Agricultural Commissioner Marcie Skelton requested a disaster declaration designation for Glenn County from the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture earlier this month due to the results of freezing temperatures that occurred in February and April.

We’re now well into 2022, 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!

In Latina and Frisone, just south of Rome, producers are working to increase yields and quality while promoting oleotourism and their historic connection to the Vatican.

SPAIN enlisted Queen Letizia to promote olive oil to NATO wives and companions during their visit to Madrid. The majority of Heads of State and Government who attended to NATO Conference were accompanied by their partners and as is traditional, the host Government had to find things to keep them occupied whilst their partners were in session.

Olive oil's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties might help soothe sunburned skin from the inside out - and research shows that drinking or eating olive oil may even provide some pain relief.

Entries open, 2022 Royal Adelaide Olive Awards

Webinar: The Mediterranean Blessing - Olive Leaf as a Herbal Medicine

Entries open, 2022 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Central NSW Olive Workshop - Monivae, NSW

Entries close, 2022 Royal Adelaide Olive Awards

Entries open, WA Olive Awards

Entries close, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Entries close, 2022 NZ EVOO Awards

Results announced, 2022 Royal Adelaide Olive Awards

Entries close, 2022 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Entries close, WA Olive Awards

Olives NZ Processing Practices seminar – Canterbury, NZ

Medals announced, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

Awards presentation, 2022 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

Olives NZ Conference and Awards Dinner – Wellington, NZ

2022 Olives New Zealand Conference – Wellington, NZ

Field tour, 2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

Awards Dinner, 2022 Australian International Olive awards

2022 AOA National Olive Conference & Exhibition – Devonport, Tasmania

Awards Night, WA Olive Awards

SA Olive Festival - Nangkita Olives, Fleurieu Peninsula

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