Olive Oil News

Back in January when Australia and New Zealand proposed new olive oil standards that departed from those established by the International Olive Council, the IOC issued a statement calling the measure a possible “barrier to trade” while recommending a reconsideration of the move. The statement, titled “IOC Comments on the Draft Australian/New Zealand Standard Olive Oils and Olive Pomace Oils,” laid out about 20 “discrepancies” that included definitions, olive oil categories and testing methods in the proposed guidelines that differed with, or did not exist in the IOC standards. “It would be expedient,” the IOC said, “for the Australian/New Zealand draft standard to be re-examined.”

French organisation Odyssée Agri is looking for work experience placement positions on agricultural properties in Australia and New Zealand. The young French farmers come from farming backgrounds and are skilled and experienced in agriculture. Applicants are available throughout the year and most stay for several months. They have their own insurance and international drivers licences, and many have experience driving tractors, harvesters and other farm machinery. For more information, or to organise a placement, go to www.odyssee-agri.com (click on the British flag for English pages) or contact Odyssée Agri at [email protected].

Have you booked your place at the 2011 National Olive Conference and Trade Exhibition? There’s still time, and the Wangaratta community are gearing up for a warm country welcome for their olive industry visitors! You’ll find all the details, including speaker profiles and exhibitor details, site plan, conference schedule and registration form, in the official program, proudly provided by Olivegrower & Processor and the AOA inside the new September-October edition. Don’t miss out – register now for this important industry event.

And don’t forget also the two night-time demonstrations of new-model electrostatic sprayers in action, presented by The Olive Centre and Martignani, where a glow-in-the-dark spray medium will be applied to trees. The demonstrations will be held on 24 October at Sam Miranda Vineyards, Snow Road, Oxley, VIC (vineyard demo) and 26 October at EV Olives, 203 Everton Road, Markwood VIC 3678 (olive demo), commencing at 5.30pm, with a BBQ provided on both nights. To register ph: 07 4696 9845, 0403 498 645 or email [email protected]

The Australian Agriculture College Corporation (AACC) is seeking feedback from individuals interested in potentially completing an online Organic Agriculture Diploma. As this is the first course of its kind being developed, ACCC welcomes all feedback and/or suggestions from potential participants in order to tailor the course to individuals’ needs. A brief five minute survey is available here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/D8X3SQW and for further information contact [email protected].

Olives New Zealand Inc members, don’t forget to the 2011 ONZ Annual General Meeting is being held tomorrow, October 15 from 10am -11.30am at Tatum Park, 820-850 State Highway 1 Manakau (between Otaki and Levin). The agenda will include the election of officers and a review of the constitution. Further information https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/agm/notice-of-agm/ . The day will also encompass a field walk at last year’s Best of Show EVOO award winner’s grove, Kapiti Olives, followed by the ONZ Awards Dinner. The event is open to all olive growers, and the cost is $65 for the lunch and field walk, and $80 for the dinner. Last minute registrations and enquiries to [email protected]

The latest edition of Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor hit letterboxes this week, bringing readers the latest in olive industry news and information. Along with updates on the new Australian Standard and the Olive Levy Proposal, there’s more local and international news, information on plant sanitation and resistant cultivars, an explanation of current lab tests and what they mean, and a practical guide to DIY grafting.

As demand for olive oil falls and prices follow suit, the European Commission is intervening to ensure beleaguered producers tender for aid so they can store their surplus. Brussels announced recently that it will provide private storage aid enabling up to 100,000 tonnes of Spanish virgin olive oil to be stored for six months.