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Canowindra farmer Sam Statham has taken out the inaugural 2012 New South Wales Organic Pioneers Award. “Sam first started growing grapes and olives organically in 1997 and is now widely respected in organic industry circles right across Australia,” says Department of Primary Industries acting skills and communities director, John Newcombe. “Sam is a trailblazer in the organics industry and has made a significant contribution to the development of the rapidly growing sector. Sam’s family business Rosnay is a certified organic farm producing winegrapes, olives and figs as-well-as value-added products such as olive paste, fig preserve and award-winning wines.”
Read MoreThere has been concern following allegations by the ABC’s 7.30 Report of potential contamination in two product lines of Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS) BFA registered farm inputs. NTS Fulvic 1400 and Nutri-Care were alleged to contain substances not permitted in organic production – nitrates and benzene. Australian Certified Organic (ACO) is conducting product tests on some 80 NTS products to confirm these results, while NTS is conducting its own product tests to determine the source of contamination. In the meantime a number of products have recently been withdrawn from BFA registration, pending test results: Backyard Boost, Backyard Blooms, K-Carb-35, Cal-Mag Life, Dia-Life, Gyp-Life, Lime Life, Mag Life, Phos Life, Nutri-Key Shuttle Seven, Life-Force Vita-Guard, Vita-Guard, Life-Force Stimulate, NTS Fulvic 1400, NTS Soluble Fulvic Acid Powder and Nutri-Care. An updated list of BFA registered NTS products for organic farming is available at: www.australianorganic.com.au. Organic growers who believe they have used any of these products in the past 12 months are urged to contact ACO prior to produce being sold, and are advised to temporarily discontinue using all Nutri-Tech products until the full investigation has been completed.
Read MoreDon’t miss your chance to enter the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Award’s olive oil and olive competition, now proudly supported by AOA Victoria. The competition features 13 classes for extra virgin olive oil, two for flavoured oils and four for table olives. Cost is $70 per entry, and the entry booklet and form can be downloaded here https://tiny.cc/p0gngw. There’s no time to waste, as entries close today – Friday, 3 August – with judging from 23-26 August. For further information contact Ross Karavis on (03) 9281 7435 or at [email protected].
Read MoreProducers are reminded that the Olives NZ Certification Program 2012 is now a ‘one-stop shop’ administered by the Executive Officer (EO). Samples can no longer be sent to AsureQuality or Plant and Food. Documentation, samples and payment go to the EO, who manages assessment (chemical and sensory) and provides qualification certificates which allow the use of the OliveMark. Certification documentation has been emailed to all members and can also be download here https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/members-news/certification/2012-certification-programme-and-documentation/ . The 55+ samples sent to date have all received positive results.
**Note: receipt of a submission by Olives NZ to receipt of results from DPI is generally 4-5 weeks, therefore 10 August is the last day for receipt of oils for certification to ensure entry into the 2012 ONZ Awards. There will also be no submissions sent to DPI from 17 August-10 September as the EO will be away.
There’s a profusion of olive oil brands in the market as health-conscious, upwardly mobile Indians make it the cooking medium of choice. Indian taste buds are flowering, thanks primarily to international cookery and health food shows on television. Sure enough, olive oil is grabbing prime space on kitchen shelves, as it is said to be healthier and less fattening. Used primarily for massages till about a decade ago, olive oil has emerged as one of the healthiest cooking mediums in India. Rising health awareness coupled with promotional campaigns run by both exporting nations and Indian importers have aided the trend.
Read More“How many calories does an apple contain? How much protein is found in yoghurt? Which fruit contains the most vitamin C, oranges or black currants?” These questions and many others are answered by a newly updated database of nutritional content for 1440 foods – including olive oil.
Read MoreThe price of olive oil in Europe dropped by 4.6% in the first half of this year, and the price manufacturers paid growers for their olives fell even more steeply. Nevertheless, the price of olive oil in Israel rose by about 7% during those six months, the market research firm Nielsen found. Producers and retailers both deny any responsibility.
Read MoreOnline entries are now open for the New York International Olive Oil Competition. A panel of international olive oil judges will scrutinise entries from around the globe to find the year’s best olive oils, with separate award categories for regular and organic production designations. Organised by olive oil publication, Olive Oil Times, the five-day event in SoHo will include tastings, workshops and culinary demonstrations. The Awards Gala Dinner at the International Culinary Center will encompass a press conference to announce the contest winners, followed by a menu highlighting the award-winning olive oils. Enter https://nyoliveoil.com/enter/
Read MoreAustralian olive growers will take their campaign for a fair market for olive oil to a meeting today in Adelaide. It will be a state and federal ministerial council meeting. Federal Opposition spokesman on Consumer Affairs Bruce Billson has called for the issue of misleading labelling of imported brands to be put on the agenda for the meeting, which is being chaired by state Minister for Consumers John Rau. Mr Rau said he was happy for the issue to be discussed under the general heading of food labelling, “an area of consumer law which requires constant vigilance”.
Read MoreAn invitation to participate in the Australian Golden Olive Awards is extended to all Australian olive growers. This is the 13th annual award and organisers rate the event as one of the best value for money competitions for extra virgin olive oil and table fruit. Closing date for participation forms is 21 July; closing date for submission of product, entry form and payment is 9 August, with the Celebration Dinner and Presentation of Awards to be held on Saturday, 15 September, 2012 at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway, Wangaratta. Download the Invitation to Participate form https://www.vicolives.com.au
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