23 June 2023

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

Today's Top Story

Global climate records breaking at rapid rate as 2023 could become the warmest year on record

This year has already produced record high global ocean temperatures and low Antarctic sea ice. (Supplied: Australian Antarctic Division)

This year could be a watershed moment in Earth's climate history. Major global climatological records are breaking at a rapid rate, a trend likely to continue during the coming years as the world's oceans and atmosphere rebound sharply following a triple La Niña.

Australia

But at home right now …

Temperature records broken across NSW due to consecutive cold fronts, according to BOM

Temperatures plummeted across the country's south-east overnight. (Supplied: Jack Ratz)

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed several towns have set temperature records after a freezing morning across the country's south-east. One location experienced its coldest morning on record, while others shivered through their coldest June morning.

Just in case you hadn’t felt it! Hope everyone’s got their fruit off by now.

Slug numbers increase across south-eastern Australia thanks to triple La Niña

Farmers in south-eastern Australia have been fighting against the worst slug numbers seen in crops in decades. While the season was expected to be tough, the numbers of slugs observed across South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales has exceeded predictions.

Olive pickle or press success

The good oil: Ben Zerafa went olive picking at Apulia Grove during Heathcote on Show. Photo: Peter weaving.

Apulia Grove gave visitors to this year’s Heathcote on Show a chance to pick their own olives and either learn how to dry pickle them or have them turned into olive oil. Co-owner Ceilidh Meo said the experience had been great for everyone involved.

Don’t miss Ceilidh’s great article on how to run a community picking event in the June edition of Olivegrower & Processor, hitting letterboxes this week.

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!

New Jobs and Skills Council for Food and Beverage and Pharmaceuticals manufacturing sector

The Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (Manufacturing Alliance) has been established as the Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) for the manufacturing industry. Jobs and Skills Councils advocate for industry and work closely with government to create an efficient, tripartite training system delivering sustainable prosperity for workers, employers and the wider Australian economy.

The Manufacturing Alliance is now responsible for the role previously fulfilled by Skills Impact in developing new training products and skills standards for the Food and Beverage and Pharmaceuticals sector. Its key responsibilities include:

workforce planning
training product development
supporting training delivery
industry support and advocacy

Find out more here.

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.

Feral animals increase with aerial culling on pause, but El Niño provides chance to 'crash' populations

Farmers across New South Wales have reported an "explosion" in feral pig numbers. (Supplied: Nic Perkins, Invasive Animals CRC)

A six-week ban on aerial culling last year is being blamed by farmers in New South Wales for an "explosion" in pest numbers.

How diversity helped 2023's Farmers of the Year keep a 150-year-old operation running strong

Tess and Andrew Herbert's "excellent" and innovative business practices allowed them to weather the drought, the pandemic and catastrophic flooding. Now their efforts have been recognised with a top honour.

Robots, high-density planting just some of Young Farmer of the Year's fresh ideas

Eve the apple picking robot is being trialled on orchards in Ardmona. (ABC Rural: Annie Brown).

Fifth-generation apple, pear and stone fruit grower Mitchell McNab says robotics will play a major role in the future to keep production costs down.

Opportunities

Agribusiness Australia Scholarship

Each year, Agribusiness Australia awards a scholarship to encourage young Australians to undertake tertiary education in agriculture and choose a career in agribusiness.

The 2023 Agribusiness Australia Scholarship is now open for applications from eligible secondary school students across Australia. Students planning to enter university in 2024 to study an ag degree, or a degree or full-time tertiary education in order to establish a career in ag, are invited to apply.

Application submissions close at 5pm on Thursday, 27 July.

Find out more and download the application form here.

Please pass this opportunity on to any aspiring young olive growers/processors/agronomists you know.

Events

Webinar: Minimising energy bill shock and tackling wholesale volatility for businesses

With imminent bill shock and market volatility, Choice Energy is hosting an energy webinar on Wednesday, 12 July to help navigate these challenges and maximise savings. Olive industry members are invited to attend, to gain tactical insights into managing and lowering your energy costs.

The webinar will cover:

Default market offer increases and how to minimise impacts for small business;
State-by-state wholesale market volatility and insights for negotiating large-market energy contracts;
Revised government tax incentives and funding for businesses wanting to reduce their reliance on grid power through solar - without coming up with a budget.

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

IrrigationNZ election manifesto calls for water security so Kiwis get fresh food at reasonable prices

IrrigationNZ today released its election manifesto which calls for policies that secure water for growing food. “Keeping food affordable in New Zealand means farmers and growers need access to reliable water at the right time in the growing cycle,” says IrrigationNZ chief executive.

You can access the manifesto here.

International

Researchers evaluate 12 olive varieties for drought tolerance

Cultivars from eight countries will be evaluated to see how they adapt to drought and heat in Andalusia.

Türkiye’s Gemlik olives registered on EU’s list of protected origin

The European Union on Friday granted the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status to Gemlik olives from Türkiye, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. Distinguished by their deep black color, Gemlik olives are produced in the country's Marmara region.

Spread of Xylella slowing in Puglia, researchers say

Emmanuel Sanarica.

As the number of severity of new infections decreases in the southern Italian region, farmers begin to plant and graft resilient varieties.

Legislation in Switzerland would prohibit nutri-score

A parliamentary initiative might make Switzerland the first country in Europe among those that adopted Nutri-Score to change course and prohibit the front-of-pack label (FOPL).

One of the major flaws noted is that “it does not discriminate between ultra-processed and non-processed foods”. Like the HSR system.

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!

Olive oil prices are skyrocketing thanks to one deeply concerning issue: ‘We don’t know how this situation is going to end’

A tumultuous climate has caused the price of olive oil to skyrocket - and experts warn that we shouldn’t expect it to decrease any time soon. Olive farmers worldwide are feeling the pain of a rapidly shifting climate. Two hubs of the olive oil industry - Spain and California - are facing opposite conditions that make olives much more difficult to grow.

Safety alert: Vancouver Coastal Health warns of health risk in olive oil products

The retailer did not meet the food safety standards to "eliminate harmful bacteria that can cause illness, including foodborne botulism."

The best way to ensure you have the correct production standards in place is to join the OliveCare® code of practice program - find out more here.

Almost 70% of avocado oil is already rancid when you buy it, according to a new study

Everyday better to do everything you love/Getty Images/Allrecipes.

It turns out that bottle of avocado oil in your kitchen might not be all that you bargained for. According to a recent report from the University of California at Davis, 69% of avocado oils sold by retailers are either rancid or are actually mixed with other oils.

Remind you of another report from past years about another popular oil?

Five misconceptions regarding the quality and authenticity of olive pomace oil

Cooking food has transformed into a multifaceted endeavor encompassing awareness, conscious choices, and scientific knowledge. In this evolving landscape, consumers now seek answers regarding the origins, ingredients, and production processes of their meals.

Hmmm …