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A recent study under the title Greece 10 years ahead aspires to set the foundations for the economic recovery of the teetering country. The study, produced by McKinsey management consulting firm in Athens, proposes a ‘National Growth Model’ that prioritizes what has to be done and in which sectors of the economy. Tourism and energy are considered key sectors. Equally, agriculture is not a small cog in a large wheel but rather a big player that will yield substantial income and create job positions. When the term ‘agriculture’ is used in Greece, one thing certainly comes in mind: olives and olive oil.
An Olive Field Day is being held on Friday, 4 May at Murrindindi Olive Grove, Yea. Presented by the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Murrindindi Olive Grove and Kingsford Machinery Sales & Service, the event is supported by AOA Victoria and will feature exhibitors and guest speakers on a range of relevant topics. The Murrindindi Olive Grove processing facility will be in full operation and accessible for viewing throughout the day. For more information contact Umberto Frattali on 0418 333 586 or [email protected], or Tom Tigani on 0429 377 886.
The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Adelaide is organising an Olive Study Tour of Italy and Spain for late 2012. Departing on November 4, the tour will encompass marketing, table olives, bottling and buyers. For more information call the Chamber on (08) 8232 4022 or email [email protected].
The Italian Chamber of Commerce is also promoting local participation at Cibus 2012, an annual international Food Exhibition in Parma, Italy. Cibus is the key event of the Italian agri-food sector, providing a platform to enable companies committed to ‘Made in Italy’ foods to meet major distributors, importers and professionals in domestic and foreign markets. Fiere di Parma is offering packages for Australian operators to participate at Cibus, with three options available. For further information, contact Antonio Rosato at [email protected] or 08 8232 4022 by 4 April 2012.
In the social entrepreneurial spirit, Australia’s award-winning, Yellingbo Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil has partnered with several of the most effective women and girls’ development organisations to create a groundbreaking online platform called, 2+U=Change. The company’s owner, Jeremy Meltzer, is an ambassador for women’s rights.
The new Constitution for Olives New Zealand was adopted unanimously at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on Saturday, 24 March in Auckland. Some 76 people attended the meeting, including seven non-member observers. The Executive will now work on implementing the new Constitution.
The organization ChileOliva, in conjunction with InnovaChile, will host a seminar entitled “Calidad del Aceite de Oliva, Procesamiento y Eficiencia” (Olive Oil Quality, Processing and Efficiency) on April 4 at the Hotel Diego de Almagro Rancagua in central Chile. The seminar will include lectures on the many aspects of extra virgin olive oil production: quality-determining factors, storage procedures, energy efficiency and processing methods, to name a few, and will feature expert panelists including our own Pablo Canamasas of Boundary Bend.
Encouraged by strong numbers in recent years, Chile has asked Andalusia to lend technological and economic support to help expand its emerging olive oil sector and establish a “strategic business alliance” between the two entities. Sergio Romero Pizarro, the Chilean Ambassador to Spain, represented the South American country in a series of talks with Mayor of Jaén José E. Fernández de Moya and industry representatives. Pizarro used the occasion to invite businesses and entrepreneurs from the Andalusian capital to invest in Chile’s growing sector.
Armed with pincers, a small tractor grabs the trunk of an olive tree in southern Spain and shakes loose its fruit, which will be pressed in a few hours. Olive oil production in the Andalusia region reigns supreme, but farmers are beginning to worry about growing competition from Morocco. Spanish producers’ concerns focus on a European Union agricultural free trade accord signed in February with the north African country. “The agreement with Morocco is a step towards ruin for Spanish olive oil producers,” said farmer Lope Ruiz Lopez.
Coldiretti president Sergio Marini stated that ”today most bottles of oil on sale are from foreign olives, without consumers being aware of it.” In his address to Vinitaly’s conference on olive oil, Marini pointed out that in 2011 the imports of foreign olive oil reached an all-time high of 594,000 tonnes , thus surpassing domestic production which dropped to 483,000 tonnes. According to a study by the Italian farmers association Coldiretti, Italy is the top olive oil importer in the world.