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French organisation Odyssée Agri has several skilled and experienced applicants looking for agricultural placements in the southern hemisphere. Odyssée Agri works to provide young French farming professionals with work experience abroad. All applicants are skilled and experienced in agricultural pursuits, including tractor and heavy vehicle operation, and many come from farming backgrounds. They come on working holiday visas and placements are free, generally lasting between six weeks and three months. More information, or for enquire about a placement,https://www.odyssee-agri.com/Introduction.
The biennial Australian Organic Market Report on-line Value Adder and Marketer Survey is now open. Certified organic businesses involved in value adding (processing) or marketing (wholesaling, importing/exporting and retailing) are strongly encouraged to complete the survey, being conducted by Swinburne University and Mobium. The AOMR 2012 will include data from farm gate to retail, including data by sector and analysis of market trends. This year’s will include this year an expanded consumer and market trends section, including research on country of origin, market outlets, etc. Value adders and marketers certified for organic processing, wholesaling or retail can access the survey by emailing Jue Chen at: [email protected]. The report will be launched on 26 October 2012.
Enrolments are open for the 1st Southern Hemisphere Olive Oil Championship, the ANZSA Awards 2012. Held in Australia in conjunction with the 7th ARMONIA International Olive Oil Competition, the ANZSA competition is open to all olive growers, olive oil producers, processors and bottlers in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. ARMONIA is the only competition in the world that brings producer, chef and consumer together, with awarded olive oils showcased in a chain of “Extra Virgin Olive Oil Restaurants” in Sydney, Singapore and at Crave Sydney International Food Festival. Winners will also be entered into the international final of the ARMONIA-ALMA Trophy and the selection process for the “World’s 100 Most Outstanding Extra Virgin Olive Oils”. Closing date for applications and oil samples is 7 September, 2012. Download rules and application forms https://www.oliveoilagency.org/2012-03-07-18-48-22/southern-hemisphere-olive-oil-championship or go to www.oliveoilagency.org for more information.
As part of its ongoing support of the industry, Australian and New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor and Friday Olive Extracts publisher Ryan Media has announced it will sponsor one of major awards in the ANZSA competition, the Olive Oil Processors Award. Recognising excellence in processing, the award aims to highlight the importance of the processing stage in the production of exceptional quality EVOOs. Editor Gerri Nelligan has also been appointed to the judging panel for the ANZSA Packaging Award.
Last weekend was an exhausting one for the 14 judges of the 2012 Perth Royal EVOO Competition, who spent two days judging the 127 oils entered in this year’s competition. So now comes the wait for the announcement of the winners – which will, of course, be made at the award presentation dinner on Saturday, 22 September at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. Seats are still available, at $100 for members and $120 for non-members (not including drinks). As the WA Olive Council’s main social activity of the year, the dinner is a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues and other growers and support the entrants in their quest for “gold”. For bookings contact executive officer Pauline North at [email protected] or ph: (08) 9381 7162.
Registrations are now open for the ABARES Burnie Regional Outlook conference on Wednesday 26 September 2012. The conference program is tailored to the region, including commodity forecasts and discussion on industry trends. It’s a chance to access information, make new contacts in the community and gain an understanding of global issues affecting the region. A mix of local and ABARES speakers will run sessions on Global economy – local impacts, Expanding the North West – productivity and markets, Adapting to a changing environment and a closing panel discussion on Skills, training and careers for young regional Australians. Here panellists and delegates will explore topics such as demographic shifts, regional development, future producers, labour and skills, future industries, new technologies and social media. The conference will be held at The Point and the cost is $98 (inc GST). For bookings email: [email protected] or go online here https://www.daff.gov.au/abares/regional.
Entries for the 2012 NZ EVOO Awards opened on 13 August and close on 10 September. Late entries will not be accepted, so hop to it! Full details and entry forms are available on the Olives NZ website https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/members-news/awards/awards-2012/.
Entries are now open for the 2012 New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition, a celebration of the quality and variety of culinary oils available for retail sale in New Zealand. Run by the Canterbury A&P Association in conjunction with the Canterbury A&P Show, the competition is open to New Zealand-produced oils, with classes for EVOO (Light, Medium and Intense), Walnut Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Avocado Oil, and Infused Olive Oil. Entries are judged by a panel of independent food industry experts, competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, Best in Class for each section and ultimately Best in Show. Entries close 5pm Thursday, 25 October, with winners announced on 31 October. Winning oils will be on display in the Food & Wine NZ Pavilion at the 150th Canterbury A&P Show, 14-16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. Entries https://www.theshow.co.nz/2012-show/feature-competitions/olive-oil/.
A Northland olive oil producer has picked up two medals at an international olive oil competition in California. Mangonui olive oil co-operative Ocean View Olive Estate won two silver awards at the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You can read more about all of New Zealand and Australian producers’ fantastic achievements in LA in the October edition of Olivegrower & Processor, hitting letterboxes in September.
Bulk prices for extra virgin olive oil have shot up 57 cents in Spain amid gloomy harvest forecasts for the next season, which starts in a month. In May olive oil prices were at their lowest since 2009, according to the International Olive Council, with EVOO down to €1.77 ($2.22) a kilo. But Spain’s olive oil price information system POOLred shows that since July there’s been a strong recovery.