30 June 2023

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au

Today's Top Story

Never drink red wine with fish! 10 famous food rules you can absolutely ignore

It is said you should never wash a mushroom, add salt to pulses in the pan or cook with olive oil. But accepted wisdom isn’t always right ...

Best line: ‘(Olive oil treated to raise its smoke point is, he says, “highly processed … and best avoided”.)’

Australia

Australian governments impose recycling rules after packaging industry fails on waste

Industry will be forced to do more to cut waste and boost recycling after Australia’s federal and state governments agreed for the first time to impose mandatory packaging rules on manufacturers and retailers.

Listen: Community olive oil processing

Getting the olives ready to process into oil at a community event at Lentara grove in Tasmania (ABC Rural: Laurissa Smith).

Have you got an olive tree in your backyard? There's probably plenty of olives to brine and eat at home, but not quite enough to make olive oil. But you might get a bottle or two, from combining the fruit from other trees in the area. As Laurissa Smith discovered, the concept of a community press continues to grow in popularity.

A reminder that if you’re keen to get involved, you can get the lowdown on how to run a community picking event in the June edition of Olivegrower & Processor. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here.

'Invisible robbers' stealing millions in phone porting scam labelled as 'terrifying'

In regional Victoria, it's not uncommon to lose phone reception. Amid the chaos of school pick-up in Bridgewater in Central Victoria, this is what Claire Harrison thought was happening when her phone showed "SOS" instead of a signal on a Friday afternoon in May. She didn't realise it was the first sign she'd been hacked.

An incredibly important issue we all need to be aware of, and on guard for.

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. Alan’s had his query from last week answered, so we know it works!

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.

New scheme to protect farm data

As agriculture shifts into the digital era, a new certification scheme – the Australian Farm Data Code - has been released to help farmers choose the tools and services that protect their farm data, giving them the confidence it won’t be shared, sold and it can be deleted at the farmer’s request.

The Australian Farm Data Code was developed and adopted by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) in consultation with industry, and with support from the Australian Government.

Find out more here.

Yass Valley farmers share the good oil as autumn olive harvest winds up

It may be a long way from Jaen province in the south of Spain, or Italy’s famous Tuscan countryside, but the Yass Valley is proving it has what it takes to produce world-class olives. The area around Canberra is already known for its superb cool-climate wines, and Peter O’Clery from Homeleigh Grove believes olives will be the next big success story for the region.

Australian Food and Grocery Council survey on business capital investment

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) is inviting Australian food, beverage, and grocery manufacturers to participate in a survey to understand the rationale, outlook, impact, and barriers regarding capital investment projects within your business in Australia. The information provided will assist the AFGC in advocating for improved conditions to grow capital investment in the food, beverage, and grocery sector.

The survey comprises ten questions and takes 8-10 minutes to complete, with a closing date of 7 July. Take part here.

Wind farm noise no worse for sleep than traffic noise, study by sleep researchers finds

The researchers found short exposure to wind farm and road traffic noise both triggered a small increase in people waking.(ABC Gippsland: Emma Field)

Noise from wind farms is no more disruptive to sleep than traffic sounds, new research has found. A study by sleep researchers at Flinders University has also revealed that very-low-frequency wind farm noise is not audible to the human ear, either while awake or asleep.

Opportunities

AgCAREERSTART program - giving young people a leg up in ag

Young Australians struggling to enter farming when they have no connections in agriculture are finding fulltime farm work through AgCAREERSTART, with 94% of the 2022 alumni saying they intend to stay in the industry. The program, which matches young people with farms and training opportunities, is recruiting host farms now to employ the next cohort.

Find out more here.

Events

2023 Cobram Academy virtual tastings

The Cobram Academy is back for 2023, offering two virtual tasting experiences from expert hosts to share tasting skills and information on EVOO.

Introductory Tasting, with Co-Founder Rob McGavin, Chief Oil Maker and Joint-CEO Leandro Ravetti, and Dietitian Dr Joanna McMillan - how good quality EVOO is made, with an insight into the science behind the proven health benefits. Oils tasted are new season Light, Classic and Robust EVOOs, and Ultra Premium Hojiblanca.

Details: Thursday, 27 July from 7-8pm AEST; $12 per person, including tasting kit and shipping. Registration closes 13 July - register here.

Advanced Tasting, with Chef Neil Perry AM, Chief Oil Maker and Joint-CEO Leandro Ravetti, hosted by Dietitian Dr Joanna McMillan - tasting of Ultra Premium single varietal range, plus how to make restaurant quality food at home from Perry and Ravetti. Bonus sample of Truffle Infused EVOO.

Details: Tuesday, 15 August from 7-8 AEST; $15 per person, including premium tasting kit and shipping. Registration closes 1 August - register here.

2023 Australian International Olive Awards - Entries now open

The 2023 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) is now open for entries.

Australia’s premier olive competition, with increasing international recognition and status, the AIOA provides benefits for entrants including:

Entries individually assessed and awarded on merit.
All entrants receive comprehensive judging feedback.
Successful judging provides eligibility for OliveCare® certification.
Unprecedented opportunity for international recognition of winning products and producers.
Official AIOA Results Book, providing a great marketing tool for all medal and award winners.
The opportunity to purchase high-resolution professional product images for use in social media, website and media purposes at only $35 plus GST.

Find out more and enter here.

“I work so hard and it’s just wonderful to get something for all the hard work. I put my heart and soul into it, and I think it’s paid off with this award…and it’s expensive to make, so the boost in sales is such a bonus. Instead of three bottles, now people will ask for 12 – when it’s won Best in Show, it makes a great present.”

Liz Tonkinson, Leisal Rose, 2021 AIOA Best of Show EVOO

New Zealand

New Zealand producer uses brix levels to determine ideal harvest moment

Vintiner harvesting olives.

Unlike with grapes or other fruit, Ross Vintiner harvests olives when the sugar level falls, indicating that oil is accumulating and polyphenol content remains high.

International

Drinking olive fruit water can aid exercise efficiency, research suggests

A new study from nutrition researchers at Anglia Ruskin University, published in Nutrients, is the first to examine the exercise benefits of drinking olive fruit water. Olive fruit water is traditionally a waste product created during the production of olive oil.

Despite production woes, Spain anticipates expanding organic exports to China

Spain’s oldest organic certification body has signed a deal with its Chinese counterpart to increase Spanish organic exports to the world’s second-largest economy.

Once again, olive growers in Western Mediterranean face severe drought

The cracked ground of the La Vinuela reservoir Malaga, Spain - 22 Mar 2023 (Photo by Jesus Merida/SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images).

In Andalusia, rainfed olive groves are barren. Similar situations have been reported in North Africa. Officials in Europe are focusing on the soil to mitigate the drought.

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!

In ice cream, olive oil adds health benefits without compromising flavor

A new study from the University of Naples published in the Journal of Functional Foods examines the sensory and nutritional aspects of non-dairy olive oil ice cream.

We think that in everything, olive oil adds health benefits and flavour!

Georgia’s largest olive oil producer gears up for its (very) early harvest

While drought is not an issue in the Peach State, humidity and hurricanes are not uncommon during Georgia’s late summer harvest.

The super easy way to fake a seared steak in the air fryer

For many of us, when we picture the perfect steak, we picture it with a caramelized crusty outside that delivers a blast of mouthwatering flavor. Getting the perfect sear on your steak can be just as crucial as perfecting the temperature and level of doneness.

No prizes for guessing the secret ingredient …

Chalkidiki olive farmers face tragic fruit set after another mild winter

Table olive producers on the northern Greek peninsula are at the mercy of the region’s ever-changing microclimate, which threatens to eviscerate the approaching harvest.