Farms will be exempt from having a QR code check-in when NSW moves to mandate the COVID-19 practice across all workplaces from Monday, July 12. The NSW Farmers Association said there had been some confusion around the rules for primary producers.

The NSW water watchdog will soon take action against large-scale irrigators not playing by the rules, after finding 45 per cent of pumps over 500mm are still not fitted with accurate meters.

There've been allegations some farm workers are getting paid less than $25 a day, but a legal battle about to get underway could lead to them being guaranteed a minimum wage. This week, the Fair Work Commission will consider a bid to scrap piece worker rates, where workers' pay is calculated on how much fruit or vegetables they pick.

Fats are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet - they also add taste, texture and aroma to our foods. Animal products naturally contain fats, but with more people looking to plant-based foods, the race is on to create a sustainable fat alternative.

The Andrews Labor Government is backing key horticulture regions through a program designed to help farmers attract and retain workers they need for the coming harvest season.

The ongoing lockdowns across the country remind us all that it’s important to keep up with the changing status of pandemic regulations across the board. You can access state-specific information on COVID-19 from the links below:

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 excess product or equipment – like Mary, who’s selling handmade olive tapenade to extend your product range. 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.

 

Market vendors in Townsville have been without income for two weeks, after a woman who tested positive to COVID-19 visited the event. Hundreds of people were identified as close contacts of the case, including stallholders at Cotters Market.

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.

 

Australian businesses are hurrying to meet a deadline to phase out many types of single-use plastics.

The federal government wants to phase out plastics that end up in landfill, including expanded polystyrene, plastic bags, plastic cutlery and takeaway containers by the middle of next year.

Several people representing the community in the planning phase of a controversial infrastructure project in western Victoria will quit their positions, saying electricity distributor AusNet has not been hearing their concerns.

Farmers have thrown open their gates to invite Victorians to ask questions about how food and fibre is produced. A digital campaign, Open Gate Conversations has been launched Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano and Campaign Ambassador, Gorgi Coghlan.

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

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and CSIRO are building a new digital platform, bringing historical climate information and future climate projections into one location.

They’ve been talking to farmers to develop the first prototype of the platform, which is now available for testing, and are seeking your feedback before they develop it further to make sure it meets your needs.

On Monday, 19 July from 1pm-2.30pm AEST Mike Funnell from the Bureau’s Agriculture program will present a webinar on the program, talking through the first prototype and gaining feedback on what type of climate information you’d like to see in the platform.

Register here. 

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) continues to be a targeted, temporary emergency measure to adjust to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international air transport. 

Two briefing sessions are being held to provide the latest developments on IFAM over coming months:

Speakers will be International Freight Co-ordinator General Michael Byrne, and Air Vice Marshal Margaret Staib, Australian Government Freight Controller, who will provide an update on the program. 

More information here.

The draft Primary Production Adaptation Action Plan (AAP) is one of seven plans being developed by the Victorian Government to ensure Victoria is climate resilient now and in the future. Adaptation will reduce climate change risks, build resilience and harness adaptation opportunities of primary industries. Primary industries are already adapting to climate change, but more action is needed and the draft Primary Production AAP seeks to build on the work that primary industries are already doing.

At this webinar you will learn about the draft AAP and what it means for Victoria’s primary industries, and how to provide feedback to help shape the Plan. You will also hear about the Water Cycle AAP.

Event details:

Wednesday, 21 July from 12-1pm AEST

Attendance is free. Register here. 

The draft Primary Production AAP and the other six plans are open for consultation until Friday, 6 August and can be found here.

In October 2020 the Australian government announced the successful completion of the largest irrigation modernisation project in Australia’s history, achieving 429 gigalitres of water savings each year in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District. These considerable agricultural water savings are being achieved by precision on-demand water delivery systems that provide flexible irrigation start times and durations to deliver the precise volumes required by crops.

This webinar will host key contributors to the modernisation journey. 

Find out more and register here.

New Zealand's closed borders have helped keep COVID-19 out of the Pacific nation, but a critical shortage of migrant labour is now fuelling protests among businesses and workers struggling with a staffing crisis.

A rich, green, unctuous oil oozes slowly out a pipe into a strainer at the end of the noisy olive press. It’s thick, tastes grassy and olivey — and then the pepperiness catches you at the back of the throat. This colour and pepperiness is characteristic of Central Otago extra virgin olive oil.

One agricultural expert estimates that olive oil production in the 2021/22 crop year could fall by more than 25 percent as a result of damage caused by the frost.

Olive oil is an essential, vibrant food with no equal in hundreds of dishes. It brings life, dimension and depth to vegetables, meat, fish, fruit and cheese. It’s the vessel in roasting, sautéing, frying, emulsifying and bonding.

Veteran olive trees in Bidnija have finally been scientifically dated and although they are not 2,000 years old as many believe, they still remember Medieval Malta. The researchers, who published the findings in the international Journal of Archaeological Studies, investigated the ages of six olive trees forming a grove in Bidnija through radiocarbon dating of tree trunks.

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!

After a year-long, pandemic-induced hiatus, the sounds of the zurna flute and beating drums again greeted thousands of Turkish wrestling fans who returned to the country’s northwest for a 600-year-old oil wrestling championship.

A new pilot project backed by some of the world’s largest food production companies will begin testing an eco-label platform on more than 100 products sold in the United Kingdom next autumn. The goal is to offer consumers a traffic-light style labeling system on food packages to let them evaluate at a glance how environmentally friendly the food packs being purchased are.

Tunisian exporters can now sell some of their olive oil in the United Kingdom duty-free after an agreement between the two countries came into force earlier this year.

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