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A new trade event for local, regional and international fine quality food and drink, Speciality Food & Drink Fair will showcase artisan food and drink directly to buyers. Organisers say the event will attract thousands of key decision makers and buyers from the best independent retailers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and hospitality outlets looking to source quality food and drink products. The event will run from 27-28 August 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre and is strictly trade only.
The Australian Government is investing more than $2 billion over five years to achieve a real and measurable difference to Australia’s environment. Caring for our Country provides funding for a broad range of sustainable land management and environmental protection work. Caring for our Country is available to legal entities including organisations and community groups for work that will contribute to achieving one or more of the Caring for our Country targets. Applications close 9 February 2012.
Food marketers have an opportunity to help consumers seeking healthy foods by providing easy-to-understand nutrition information on-pack, according to a new report from Nielsen.
The California Channel Senate Informational Hearing on the Challenges Facing California’s Olive Oil Industry (26th Jan 2012) <iframe width=”854″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/yezc6ElfO4w” frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; encrypted-media” allowfullscreen></iframe>
A workshop being held in Melbourne will help producers through the practicalities of changing from oil to table olive production. Switching from Olive Oil to Table Olive Production is a one-day course covering all aspects of running a successful table olive business, presented by Simon Field of Olive Business. In 2011 Field’s company, Salsi Olive Grove, switched its production from olive oil to table olives and is currently successfully selling olives into the Melbourne gourmet wholesale market. The workshop will be held on Saturday, 25 February at the Vibe Hotel, Carlton.
Time is running out to comment on the National Table Olives Committee’s discussion paper. Feedback in invited from all olive industry participants, with input providing the basis for the development of draft Australian Standards for Table Olives. Download the paper at https://www.olivessouthaustralia.com.au/index.php/home/1-general-info/35-discussion-paper-on-table-olives. Forward comments before the end of January to Peter McFarlane, by post to 33 Phillips St, Somerton Park SA 5044; by fax on 08 8376 7048 or via email to [email protected]
Entries are now open for the 13th Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil competition. Oils are judged by both regionality and fruitiness intensity, with additional categories for flavoured oils. Medals are awarded and winners also benefit from the display and sales of gold-medal winning oils at the annual LA County Fair. The 2012 competition introduces separate competitions for northern and southern hemisphere oils, ensuring all international EVOOs are judged at their freshest and best quality. Entry deadline for the southern hemisphere competition is July 6. More information https://www.fairplex.com/wos/olive_oil_competition/
In the world of olive oil there was no shortage of strong opinions and words to remember in 2011. Online news site the Olive Oil Times narrowed them down to the best, however, publishing a list of the 20 most memorable quotes from 2011 – including three from Australian olive industry members Amanda Bailey, Leandro Ravetti and Paul Miller.
A free online course that aims to increase environmental awareness in the food and drink sectors could help processing and packaging SMEs save money and boost their green credentials, said the body championing the initiative.
Another extra virgin olive oil blended to woo young taste buds is being marketed by a Spanish producer.
Designed to be subtle in flavor but fruity and slightly sweet, the new product from Almería-based Castillo de Tabernas is 60% Picual, 20% Hojiblanca and 20% Arbequina and has a maxmimum acidity of 0.1%. The company says the blends were those preferred in taste tests with more than 2000 children and are designed to introduce them to EVOO’s health benefits from an early age. Perhaps we should be taking ‘Fresher is Better’ into Australian and New Zealand kindergartens – Ed.