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Volume 5 - February 2009
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CONTENTS
Course for Olive Oil Processors & Producers
Providing there is sufficient interest from members, it is proposed that the first course for this year is held from Friday 3 April to Sunday 5 April inclusive.
Maggie and Ross Legh have generously agreed to allow their processing facility near Wellsford to be used as the venue.
This year we are very pleased to be able to include interested members of Olives NZ as well as processors. Space permitting, non members of ONZ will also be welcome to attend.
Leandro Ravetti along with local speakers will present the course.
The course covers all aspects of processing as well as information for growers. It will cover both the scientific principles and the practical aspects of processing and production necessary to produce high quality extra virgin olive oil including:
- Olive oil chemistry (chemical and physical properties; chemical composition)
- Fruit and Oil Testing
- Key parameters in Production (Fruit quality; Harvesting; Grower responsibilities; Processing;
Storage and shelf life)
- Research Update
- Practical aspects of high quality extra virgin olive oil production
- Hygiene/Sanitation, microbial specifications, pest control.
- Press design/Work flow patterns
- Work place safety, OSH legislation
- Waste management
- Food Control Plans, HACCP, Food Safety/NZFSA requirements, Local Authority regulations
- Tasting of NZ oils including recognising defects
All efforts will be made to demonstrate the press in action however, actual processing will be dependent upon the availability of fruit. If olives are not available for the course, then a processing demonstration day will be held at a later date.
The course is structured so that members may attend for all 3 days or one or 2 days. The fee for the course will be in the vicinity of $250.00 for ONZ members for 3 days, or a daily rate of approximately $100.00. If space permits non-members of ONZ will be welcome to attend at a cost of $350.00 for 3 days or a daily rate of $135.00.
For further information and/or to register your interest in attending, please reply as soon as possible to Bruce Robertson: admin@olivesnz.org.nz
A copy of the programme is available at http://netlist.co.nz/communities/OlivesNZ/files/2009 Olive Processing Course - Draft Programme.doc
Please Note: If there is sufficient demand there may be the opportunity to hold a second course in the South Island.
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Olives New Zealand Olivemark Promotion - Waiheke
Last year the Executive agreed to provide funding of up to $1,000 to Regional Groups to promote the Olives New Zealand Olivemark (the Red Dot). Waiheke Olive Growers carried out a promotion in conjunction with the Waiheke Olive Festival last November. The following details have been provided by Grahame Taylor.
All our flyers and printed material for the olive festival and our large street banners had the certified Red Dot applied in an appropriate size.
All the sellers of their ONZ Certified Oils had a Certified Red Dot button badge on their ‘t’ shirts or jackets
We had printed several hundred red balloons printed with Ask For! on one side, and the certification logo on the other.
All exhibiters were schooled to talk to all their apparent purchasers about the virtues of the ONZ Red Dot.
Our street banners, now 4-5 years old, looked revived, with the addition of the Red Dot! The flyers were distributed widely by WOG members to all of their clients, and appropriate tourist and visitor facilities. Larger posters in limited numbers were printed again with the Red Dot. They looked sharp and eye catching with the red dot.
The 60mm Red Dot Button, kindly produced by Judy Rae ‘free of charge’, was very appropriate as we could point to it during our sales spiel!.....and it was very apparent to our customers.
.jpg) The balloons, not only got the Red Dot message across, but added enormously to the festive spirit at the festival. The balloons were on sticks (not helium) which allowed each exhibitor to have a bundle on their stalls and hand them out to children and families (kids love balloons). The sticks allowed them to be inserted into the grass in and around the festival area and to hang around the exhibitors’ pavilion and the lecture hall. Balloons were placed, and are still being used, in main retail shops selling NZ Extra Virgin Olive Oil. There was some resistance by some non ONZ exhibitors, but as they were by far the minority, the balloons worked a treat, and I feel that the public awareness of the ONZ certification was established and it was a wonderful promotional tool for the oil producers to sing the virtues of this RED Dot in conjunction with their oil..
I have the contacts of the balloon supplier (artwork is owned by Waiheke Olive Group) and ‘T’ shirt screen, (art work owned by Grahame Taylor). Should any other regional members like the use of these, contact me on: sales@number29.co.nz
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Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
In 2000, the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition joined the world-renowned Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, bringing together the finest international and domestic oils and an impressive panel of judges.
Now in its tenth successful year, the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition has grown from 50 entries in its inaugural year in 2000 to nearly 400 entries in 2008. The competition is judged in two categories – domestic and international –separated according to regional designations and fruitiness intensity levels. The competition also judges flavored olive oils.
The competition is open to extra virgin olive oils produced around the world. It will take place from 26 – 28 May 2009 in conjunction with the L.A. International Wine & Spirits Competition. The award-winning entries will be displayed at the 87th anniversary of the L.A. County Fair in September/October 2009.
Entry The entry fee is US$100.00. The entry fee must accompany each entry form. An entry shall consist of at least 3 x 500mL bottles.
Shipping: Oils will be received from 1 February – 15 April. All oils entered must be shipped
pre-paid.
Send to: Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Attn: Olive Oil Department
1101 West McKinley Avenue
Pomona 91768
California
USA
Further information & Entry Forms : www.laoliveoilcomp.com/
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Around the Regions
Marlborough
 The Marlborough Branch decided this year to make the Marlborough A & P Show their main focus for promotion and education. A most interesting stall was organised with a continuous video show running. This video was put together by Errol and Fran Wilkinson from photos supplied by members and included many aspects of growing and harvesting olives. There were a variety of local Olive Oils for the public to taste accompanied by promotional and educational descriptive material available for anyone interested. Members maintained a presence and were available to respond to questions and give assistance.
The main thrust of the event was to educate the public on the many advantages of using New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oils and encourage people who may not be familiar with the product to taste the Oils.
Social/Tasting Evening
A most enjoyable social evening was held recently by the Marlborough Branch where members met socially to taste a selection of local oils and enjoy the company of other growers. The opportunity was taken to promote a general discussion on the "state of the industry" and this prompted some lively discussion. It is apparent that members feel that some changes are necessary if Olive growing is to be a viable secure industry for the area. The Branch is now planning another event to continue the dialogue.
Prospects for the 2009 Harvest
It appears that there has been a very good fruit set and prospects for the harvest are looking good. Good weather over the next few months will of course determine the final results.
Waiheke
We have just had our AGM at the end of January at which 25 people attended. Judy Rae was elected Chairperson and Anne Sayles, Susan McCarthy, Charmaine Maitland, Warwick Grey and Peter Cuddihy were elected to the committee.
Our group has been very casual but we feel that the time has come to keep minutes!!! and be a bit more professional.
The weather on Waiheke is extremely hot, no rain for at least five weeks the olive trees are coping no fruit dropping yet. Times like these it would be good to have irrigation. The fruit set appears to be good ours isn't; we had a northeast blow in November. We are beginning to plan the next olive festival, the last one in November was very successful. We plan to hold several field days and a social event in the next few months. Judy Rae
Waiheke Olive Festival - November 2008
The Waiheke Olive Festival attracted a great crowd this year with perfect weather once again. It was presented in conjunction with the Waiheke Island Community Art Gallery so we had the Sculpture in the Garden exhibition on at the same time which also contributed to the great crowds. Once again the festival was hosted at the beautiful Rangihoua Olive Estate where 13 members of our group exhibited and sold their oil.
We were entertained by well loved Jazz singer Maria O'Flaherty and her band, and for those more adventurous there were terrific seminars on use of oil by local well known chefs.
Overall the festival did not break even as we invested a little more in advertising this year but we still hosted over 3,000 paying adults acros the two days. We charged only $2 to ensure it stayed an affordable event for all the families on the island, and we got great coverage and support of the event by the local media.
The festival is also run in conjunction with the Jassy Dean Garden Tour so we had visitors from all over the country who were on the island for various reasons. On the whole the growers felt it was harder to sell oil this year as the economy had led to clients being less inclined to spend, while some growers did better than ever so I think it comes down to the individual selling styles.
We are already fast at work planning next years event and have some great ideas to add even more value.
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News Briefs
Study: Phytochemicals in natural olive oil suppress breast cancer ...
Flesh and Stone - St.Paul,MN,USA
Phytochemicals found in extra-virgin olive oil may suppress the gene HER2 which is responsible for the formation of breast cancer cells, say authors of a new study published in the peer-reviewed open access journal BMC Cancer.
Can extra-virgin olive oil be extra green?
GlobalPost - USA
By Angelica Marin - Special to GlobalPost MONTEVIBIANO, Italy — A farm in Umbria aims to go carbon neutral by the end of 2009.
Sexy Eats: Chef Chris Klugman pours over new New Zealand olive oil
National Post - Toronto,Ontario,Canada
The richness of saffron perfectly complements the fragrant herbaceousness of the ilove extra virgin olive oil....
Consumer research to assist AEV marketing
Courtesy of Australian Olive Association
A survey was recently commissioned by RIRDC and the AOA to establish key factors in consumer behaviour. The research looked at consumers’ awareness, purchasing habits, usage, knowledge and perception of both extra virgin olive oil and the Australian Extra Virgin brand. These statistics will be beneficial to future activities relating to the AEV brand and the Code of Practice.
Modern Olives lab 'most accurate in the world
Courtesy of Australian Olive Association
Victorian based Modern Olives Laboratory Services has been named the most accurate olive oil lab in the world in the 2007-2008 American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Proficiency Program for olive oil.
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Classifieds
As a new service to members, the e-Newsletter will have a classified section where members may place an advertisement free of charge. The advertised transaction must be on behalf of the member and be a one-off transaction ie for sale/exchange/wanted. Members who are acting as agents for another party may also place advertisements at a cost of $50.00 + GST per advertisement. Advertisements may be forwarded to the editor at steveclark@callsouth.net.nz
For Sale : Oliomio 50 olive press for sale. Purchased new in 2001, the press has operated for approximately 750 hours total over seven harvests. The press is in excellent order and comes complete with factory spares. $NZ15,000 ono. Contact Steve Clark on 027 242 9099 or steveclark@callsouth.net.nz
Work Experience Wanted : My name is Clément Torralba, I am a French student in an high school of agronomy, the ENITA of Clermont Ferrand. I have sent you an e-mail in order to get a training period.
Indeed I am interested in food processing, and I would like to do a placement in olive oil production between June and September 2009. You would find enclosed a cover letter and a résumé.
Thank you for your consideration.
If anyone can offer Clément work experience please email Bruce Robertson at admin@olivesnz.org.nz and he will forward her CV and covering letter.
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Minutes of the December Executive Meeting
The minutes of the Executive meeting held on 16 December 2008 can be viewed at http://olivesnz.org.nz/Members/Summary_Exec_Mins.cfm
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Coming Events
21 February 2009 : ONZ - Wairarapa are holding a Field Day at the grove of Rona Huggins (Wairarapa Gold) where Grant Bryan from Allendale products will be demonstrating their products.
22 March 2009 : ONZ - Hawke's Bay is holding a Field Day at Jeanine and Paul Corke's grove, Waimarama Olives starting at 2:00pm. Paul and Jeanine were awarded Best Commercial Oil as well as Best Oil in Show in our 2008 HB competition, and everyone is looking forward to seeing the grove that produces this fantastic oil! We will also be having our AGM there. The tentative plan for the field day is to talk about pre-harvest work in the grove as well as an oil tasting session with our two HB-based internationally accredited olive oil judges, Dr. Jessica Scalzo and Maurizio Rocchetti.
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