Industry News

Ongoing excavations at Silchester, Hamps. (CA 250) have uncovered the first evidence that Britain’s inhabitants were enlivening their meals with Mediterranean flavours before the Roman conquest – including Britain’s first Iron Age olive. Previously it was believed that only liquids such as olive oil and wine were imported across the Channel in the Iron Age. But now University of Reading archaeologists have found celery and coriander seeds – used as seasoning – and an olive stone at the bottom of a late Iron Age well, all pre-dating AD 43.

AOCS is pleased to add to its Laboratory Proficiency Program with the introduction of the AOCS Olive Oil Sensory Panel Proficiency Testing Series. The series, which launched last week, will allow participants to know where their sensory panel stands in comparison to sensory panels across the globe. Testing and scoring will abide by International Olive Council guidelines, with qualifying panels promoted as an AOCS Recognised Olive Oil Sensory Panel.

The North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA) has submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an “enhanced standard of identity for olive oil and olive-pomace oil products” to define the different grades of olive oil and the analytical methods used in their determination. The NAOOA, whose members are companies that import olive oil into the US, said it first petitioned the FDA with the same objective in 1990.

Industry supplier Measurement Engineering Australia Pty Ltd has received a $290,000 Early Stage Commercialisation grant from Commercialisation Australia for further development of its PWS System. The system is a new irrigation scheduling tool which uses a Plant Water Status Sensor inserted into a tree to directly measure the plant’s water stress then wirelessly transmit the data to a central location. Data is used to optimise irrigation scheduling, ensuring lower water use, better crop quality and reduced energy consumption. Grant funding will be used to develop software and web integration, design and construct assembly plant, develop final product housing for robust product design, and to provide simplified data interpretation models. More information about the grant program here www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au.

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.”

There 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.

Producers 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.