11 September 2020

Brought to you by Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor www.olivebiz.com.au
Today's Top Story

The Venetian regional government has teamed up with farmers and researchers to find the cause of an ongoing outbreak.
Australia

The Victorian government has strengthened the state's zero-tolerance approach to water theft. Water Minister Lisa Neville has accepted recommendations from an independent review into water theft compliance measures, which she said boosted water market transparency.

Residents with olive trees are being asked to do their part to prevent the spread of unwanted trees amongst native vegetation. The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is inspecting olive orchards across Lower Eyre Peninsula and is asking the community to pick olives from their own trees or remove them altogether.

Pressure is easing on the looming agricultural workforce shortage, with the federal government developing a nationally consistent approach to ag worker restrictions and reopening Pacific Island working visas.

Although statewise …

The Tasmanian government has opened the door for international workers, stranded on the mainland, to return to the state to help with the upcoming berry harvest. While continuing its push to encourage Tasmanians to fill positions that would have been taken by backpackers, Premier Peter Gutwein also flagged seasonal workers, from the Pacific Islands, could be allowed back in to the state.
AOA Membership: helping to build a sustainable and profitable future for the olive industry

Are you an Australian Olive Association member? Thank you! Membership of the AOA helps to financially support and empower the AOA to represent your interests and to help build a sustainable and profitable future for our industry.
We appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to hearing from you in 2020/21. Please look out for your membership invoices which have now been emailed. Please check your SPAM folders and whitelist secretariat@australianolives.com.au to ensure you receive your invoice.
 
Here is a reminder of some of the many activities the AOA is able to achieve for the olive industry with your membership contribution:
  •  Advocacy and representation - your voice to Government and regulators;
  • Industry risk and crisis management – protecting the olive brand and our industry; 
  • Affiliation and co-ordination with other horticulture and agriculture organizations;
  • Australian Standard for Olive oil and olive pomace oil AS 5264-2011; 
  • Code of Practice OliveCare®;
  • Consumer Awareness & Education Campaigns – Everyday, Fresher Tastes Better!
  • PHA Biosecurity Levy and biosecurity management; 
  • Australian International Olive Awards and promotions; 
  • AOA National Industry Conference & Exhibition;
  • PR program and point of sale marketing merchandise; 
  • Market surveillance and reporting; 
  • Grower field days & seminars; 
  • Industry communications – Olivegrower & Processor, Friday Olive Extracts, OliveBiz
  • AOA Facebook page; 
  • TasteBook™ program; 
  • Registered pesticide minor use permits holder for industry; 
  • Voice of Horticulture Membership; 

Your membership contribution also entitles you to many direct benefits which can provide major competitive advantages: 
  • The opportunity to obtain certification through the OliveCare® program, which can provide a competitive edge when marketing olive oil;
  • Discounted magazine subscriptions and tickets to workshops and annual industry events such as the National Industry Conference & Exhibition and Australian International Olive Awards – knowledge and awards which can set your business apart;
  • Access to the Members Lounge of the AOA website, which contains invaluable olive-related resources and exclusive emails relating to export for those signed up to the AOA Export Register.
 
Not a member? Help us help you. New members receive a FREE copy of the Olive Growing Book, valued at $165. Click here for more details on the benefits of becoming a member today.
The recent agricultural innovation agenda announcement by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is good news for farmers, National Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar said.
Got something to sell - like Rob, who’s selling a Hawke fruit harvester? 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, extra oil - or even your grove. Rob’s selling a Hawke fruit harvester so he came to us to help spread the word. 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.
Opportunities
The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme will be simplified and reoriented from a scheme providing assistance through reimbursement after expenditure to an upfront grant agreement. This will give eligible exporters funding certainty before they embark on their marketing and promotion activities.
Last chance to apply for 2021 Nuffield Scholarship

Today is the last day to apply for a 2021 Nuffield Scholarship and be part of the unique program that awards primary producers with a life-changing scholarship to travel overseas and study an agricultural topic of choice.
There are more than 20 Scholarships on offer, each valued at $30,000, open to farmers, fishers, and those in associated industries between 28-45 years of age.
Applications close Friday 11 September 2020 and interviews will take place across September and October, with successful scholars announced in October 2020.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Update: IFAM new/extended flight schedule
The continuing International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) is supporting new flights as follows: Melbourne to Shanghai via Sydney, Shanghai to Melbourne via Sydney; and Melbourne to Signapore via Perth. Extended flights include Brisbane to Auckland, Narita and Singapore; Melbourne to Hong Kong via Brisbane; Sydney to Bangkok and Narita; Auckland to Brisbane; Hong Kong to Melbourne; Narita to Sydney and Brisbane; and Singapore to Brisbane and Melbourne. 
Eligibility for products supported by IFAM is now determined by a set of principles, including: Australian-made or produced; high value; time-sensitive/perishable; limited shelf life.
View the current IFAM flight schedule and associated information, and submit an EOI to access flights, here.
Events
Strong competition for 2020 AIOA
Entries have now closed for this year’s Australian International Olive Awards, with a strong field setting up another exciting and competitive event.
“Given the incredibly difficult year, with bushfires, drought, poor flowering, COVID-19 and off-year biennial bearing, the levels of entries are excellent,” Chief Steward Trudie Michels said.
“And it’s great to see the excellent growth in table olive entries, indicating a renewed interest in table olive production and quality procedures.
“All up, there’s been a really enthusiastic response to the competition going ahead, and it’s fantastic to have entries from Tunisia, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, China and Australia this year. All arrived on time and have been sorted, coded and sent across the world in preparation for judging day on 19 September, which is all very exciting.
“Our thanks and best of luck to everyone who entered!”

Medal winners will receive their results via email on 5 October, with the major awards announced at the Australian International Olive Awards Presentation (online event) on 16 October. We’ll update with event details in coming weeks.
Water Trade 101: situation and seasonal outlook webinar
This webinar will discuss the key features of the connected southern Murray Darling Basin water market and the current situation and seasonal outlook for water availability and price. The focus will be on providing practical knowledge and tips to inform farm water trading decision making, with topics including:
  • water trading tips for your farm business
  • situation and outlook’ for water availability and the market this season, including discussion of the key drivers
  • different trading zones, water entitlement classes and volumes in the connected southern Murray Darling Basin (sMDB)
  • relative impact of allocations against different sMDB water entitlements on over-all water supply and the local water price
  • implications of inter-valley trade restrictions.
Details: Wednesday, 30 September, 1-2 pm. Register here.
AOA webinar - Upscale your table olives operation
If you’re ready to take your table olive production to the next level, you won’t want to miss this event!
Peter Reaich from the Australian Olive Company will demonstrate the workings of a commercial table olive operation using a natural fermenting method. He shares invaluable tried and tested tips for ensuring a quality product.
You will see how the Australian Olive Company washes and sorts its table olives, and Peter will explain the company's brining and natural anaerobic fermentation process. There will also be ample Q&A time with Peter. 
Details: Tuesday 22 September, 12.30pm AEST, registrations close 21 September.
New Zealand
Just one more week to register for 2020 Olives NZ Conference
The Olives NZ 2020 Conference is being held in Wellington on Saturday, 10 October at the Rydges Airport Hotel, where the 2020 NZ EVOO Awards Dinner will also be held on the Saturday night. 
The program includes:
  • Focus Grove Project – Stuart Tustin
  • Good Agricultural Practices – Damien Farrelly, NZGAP Manager, Hort NZ
  • Organics; benefits, process – Donald Nordeng, Chief Executive Officer for BioGro NZ
  • Grower Profiles – Grahame Taylor, number29, Waiheke Island; Ray Gregory, Kakariki, Nelson
  • Social Media Marketing – Mike Kotlyar, @consult
The Wairarapa Field Day will be on Friday 9th October, making for an information-packed two-day event package.
Conference registration is $200 for the first attendee and $150 for subsequent from the same company/grove, and the final date for registrations is Friday, 18 September. View the full program and register here.
International
Pruned olive trees affected by Xylella fastidiosa in Maglie, Italy | Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images

Psyllid plant-lice and gall wasps are gnawing their way into Europe's policy agenda. Pesticides are already one of the EU's most controversial political topics, but the debate about using toxic chemicals in agriculture is set to get much more complicated as climate change starts to bring more invasive pests into Europe, and make it harder to combat the bugs already here.

In the fight to keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 ºC (3.6 ºF) above pre-industrial levels, policy makers will need to focus on adapting their food systems to be more plant-based and sustainable, according to the United Nations and World Wildlife Fund.

Swapping butter for EVOO would be a good part of that adaptation …

Want to use light olive oil in your kitchen for healthy cooking and retaining the original flavor in your food? Have a look at some of the most popular options of olive oil available in India.

‘Light’ and ‘extra light’ olive oils in plastic bottles … obviously they need healthy Australian EVOOs on their shelves!

Image: Eduardo Hernandez

Spanish companies are re-exporting more oils from Portugal and Tunisia to the U.S. to bypass tariffs.

02-Sep-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Italy has again raised its opposition to the NutriScore food labelling scheme, which it says unfairly discriminates against traditional Italian delicacies.

We’re not the only ones arguing for fit-for-purpose food labelling systems.
Photo: Getty Images/People Images 

Is there any oil that’s more beloved in the wellness world than olive oil, a pantry staple so precious that some willingly pay triple digits a bottle? Unlike your standard canola, the taste of olive oil is so darn good that many wouldn’t think twice about taking a swig straight from the bottle or dipping a finger in a small pool of it when they’ve run out of bread.

Science (and flavor!) based information which references our own Olive Wellness Institute.
Friday Olive Extracts – send us YOUR news
With 2020 now well underwayFriday 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!

Plant oils are a common pantry staple often used for cooking practices like sautéing or frying vegetables, making sauces, drizzling onto pizzas, and preventing pasta from sticking together. Olive oil and vegetable oils are some of the most popular plant oils used around the world, each displaying unique characteristics. This article looks at the differences between olive oil and vegetable oil, including their best uses, taste, nutrition, and potential health benefits.

Simple, clear and factual – and reasons to use EVOO!
Tucked away in the rolling hills of Iraqi Kurdistan is a hidden treasure: tens of thousands of olive trees, thriving in a new homeland after being smuggled from neighbouring Syria. 

No question he was determined to plant an olive grove!

The restaurant known for its olive oil fried birds continues to expand its Pacific Northwest presence.

The chain has 2000 outlets and says it cooks in extra virgin olive oil. That would be a nice food service supply contract!
What's On
2020

11 September 
Entries close, 2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

11 September
Entries close, 2020 WA Olive Awards – Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition

1 October 
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Northland

2 October 
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Hawke’s Bay

5 October
Results emailed to entrants, 2020 Australian International Olive Awards

6 October 
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Nelson

7 October
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Canterbury

9 October
Olives NZ Focus Grove Field Day – Wairarapa

10 October 
Olives NZ 2020 Conference – Wellington, NZ

10 October
2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

10 October 
Awards Dinner, 2020 NZ EVOO Awards – Wellington, NZ

16 October 
Applications close, Olive Wellness Achievement Award

19 October
Results emailed to entrants, 2020 WA Olive Awards – Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition

22 October
Awards Presentation, 2020 Hunter Olive Show – Hunter Valley, NSW

20 November
2020 National Agriculture Day – Australia

2021

23-25 March
Soil CRC Participants Conference

7-9 June 
Hort Connections 2021 – Brisbane, Qld

October TBC 
AOA National Olive Conference & Trade Exhibition – Devonport, TAS

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