Industry News

THE fresh produce industry must unite to meet the threat posed by the major supermarket chains’ discounting of fruit and vegetables, says Adelaide Produce Market chairman David Schirripa. “If the promotion of fruit and veg purchased from independent fruit and vegetable retailers and independent supermarkets is not made a priority, this market and the ones like it around Australia will go into a slow decline.”

Places are now open for the Olives WA’s EVOO sensory training workshops on 24-25 March. Run by Richard Gawel, the workshops will cover the fundamentals of EVOO, and the effects of olive growing and processing methods on character and style. The courses will be presented in layman’s terms, and help participants to understand the key practical chemical indices of extra virgin olive oil – what they mean in terms of style, quality, shelf life and use. Level 1 – Saturday, 24 March; Level 2 – Sunday, 25 March 2012, with both open to members and other interested participants. For more information contact Pauline North on [email protected] or phone WAOC on (08) 9381 7162.

Order the ebook Evaluating Australian Table Olives for only $4.99 inc GST (normal retail $19.95). Published by Olive Skills & Olive Care Australia, this is a great guide for table olive producers and those looking to transition from oil to olive production. Limited stocks – no rainchecks. Phone (08) 8369 9555 to order. Offer available strictly until 24 February only.

The Executive of Olives New Zealand (ONZ) has conducted a comprehensive review of its Certification program, with the outcome recommendating that Olives New Zealand moves to using the Australian Department of Primary Industries for future certification from and including 2012. The cost to the grower would be maintained at the current cost and the system would continue to be administered by ONZ’s Executive Officer. Members are invited to comment on the proposal. The full paper is available on the ONZ website https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Certification-Future-Direction.pdf. All feedback or questions are welcome: please address these to the Executive Officer, [email protected] by the end of February.

A second bumper harvest could see Spanish farmers driven from the land they have worked for generations, says a report in UK’s The Independent. Already faced with a glut of olives equivalent to 95 million litres of olive oil, this exceptionally dry winter means the Andalucian industry is braced for its second bumper crop in a row, which could see 285 million litres flood an already saturated market. Factor in a 70% increase in production costs, the stagnation of farm prices in the past 15 years and a Spanish economy on the rocks, and the result is clear: after years of overproduction, large sectors of the olive oil industry are going to the wall.

Fairfax Media and Elders have launched the official Australian Year of the Farmer (AYOF) photo competition, with camera equipment worth $10,000 on offer for the winning photo. Monthly winners will be awarded across six categories in each state and territory, along with an overall monthly winner, with a total 442 prizes valued at over $30,000 awarded. The competition aims to inspire farmers to capture the magic they encounter in their daily lives, whether at work or at play, in the categories of: Farming people at work and play, Farm animals, The things we grow and process, Farming landscapes, Fun and funky in the country, and Country-city links. The competition runs until 30 September 2012 and images can be uploaded via the official AYOF website.