Olive Oil News

Local producers of “liquid gold” have been honoured for their achievements at the ninth annual NSW Northern Olive Oil Show. While the top honour – Best in Show – went to an oil from Varipodio Estate near Mildura, local growers David and Justine George from Tanglewood Plantation of Moonbi, and Jon and Chris Ness of Limbri’s Olive Nesst, took out the remaining two silver medals of the show. Tanglewood Plantation also received three bronze medals and Olive Nesst another bronze medal, while Mannin Grove at Coonabarabran also scored a bronze. In total, three silvers and 14 bronzes were awarded.

Grants are now available as part of the Federal Government’s $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program. The merit-based grants program aims to help local businesses transition to a clean energy economy via the funding of research and development, proof of concept/or early stage commercialisation of technologies or services to reduce carbon emissions and help improve business productivity. Grants of $50,000 to $5 million will be provided on a dollar-for-dollar co-investment basis.
For more information contact the office of Amanda Rishworth MP on (08) 8186 2588.

Perth City Farm Growers Market has a great history. A not-for-profit community farm and education centre, it has vegetable gardens and chickens, and will soon have a beekeeper. The farm in place, they launched a growers market selling farm produce and letting stalls to other growers, largely organic and biodynamic. Penny Mossop has grown her Wambyn olives at York, 100km east of Perth, since 1995.

Entries are now open for the Royal Canberra Extra Virgin Olive Oil Show, with judging to be held on 1 September 2012. Closing date for entries and oil delivery is 15 August. Winners will be announced at a presentation cocktail and tasting function at Exhibition Park, Canberra. Pre-purchase of tickets is essential. More information http://www.rncas.org.au/OliveOil/site/ or contact Suzanne Coulton on 0415 401 541.

It’s time to get your entries in for the coveted Olive Grove of the Year Award, presented by the AOA and The Olive Centre. The award aims to: reward and recognise olive growers who have been successful in improving olive growing operations; promote continual improvement in sustainable olive growing and production of high quality olive oil and/or table olives; and inspire producers through the shared experience of improvement and excellence in olive growing. Judging is undertaken using a wide and varied set of criteria, from the nature of the grove, yields and quality to improvements in sustainability management practices. Closing date for entries is 1 October 2012. More information and applications http://www.australianolives.com.au/blog-detail/olive-grove-of-the-year-2012.

Tasmanian olive growers are counting their blessings after a bumper harvest. Tasmanian Olive Council president Geoff Price said some growers were reporting twice as much fruit compared with last year.
Mr Price said the industry was still modest in size, with as many as 20 serious growers producing as much as 150 tonnes of raw fruit, worth more than $1 million. He said virtually all of it was processed into olive oil.

Several bursaries are now open for nomination:
• Peter Olsen Fellowship Award for young farmers 18-35 – $8000 grant to provide further development of personal and professional skills, to the benefit of their business and industry.
• Rural Youth Bursary for rural persons 18-30 – $5000 grant as sponsorship towards pursuing further study in a career to the benefit of the community.
• Applicants for the Rural Youth Bursary and Peter Olsen Fellowship will be considered for the Australian Year of the Farmer 2012 Award (AYOF) – $1500 grant to provide the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with other young people at the AYOF farming expo.
Nominations for all awards close 17 August 2012 and winners will be announced at the Agricultural Bureau Spirit of Excellence Awards in Kimba on 10th September. More information from Yvonne Correll, ABA Awards Coordinator – 0438 273 264.