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Volume 7 - June 2009
CONTENTS
Anniversary
The Olives New Zealand e-Newsletter is now one year old. I hope that you have enjoyed receiving the newsletters and have found them informative and helpful.
This is your newsletter and I would like to see more regions provide information and articles otherwise there is a risk of a lack of balance in the Around the Regions section. Contributions from individual members and from regional groups are always welcome as are photographs showing olive related activities. Please direct contributions to steveclark@callsouth.net.nz or to admin@olivesnz.org.nz
Thank you in anticipation.
Steve Clark
Editor
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2009 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Once again New Zealand olive oil producers have enjoyed success at the Los Angeles Internation Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competion. Congratulations to Divinity, Far North, Karaka Olives, Karikari Olives, Nelson Olives, Rangihoua Estate, Ruakokoputuna Olives and Whangape Grove on their awards. The New Zealand results are set and below :
Divinity
GOLD MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar Organic, Frantoio Mangawhai 2008
Far North New Zealand Olive Oil www.farnorthnewzealandoliveoil.com
SILVER MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar J5 Northland 2009
Karaka www.karakaolives.co.nz
GOLD MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar Koroneiki New Zealand 2008
BRONZE MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar Picual New Zealand 2008
Karikari Olives www.karikariolives.co.nz
GOLD MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar J5 Northland 2009
Oriwa www.nelsonolives.co.nz
BRONZE MEDAL International / New Zealand Blends Frantoio/Leccino Nelson 2008
Rangihoua Estate www.rangihoua.co.nz
GOLD MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar Picual Waiheke Island 2008
SILVER MEDAL International / New Zealand Mono Cultivar Koroneiki Waiheke Island 2008
SILVER MEDAL International / New Zealand Blends Waiheke Blend Waiheke Island 2008
Ruakokoputuna www.ruakokoputunaolives.co.nz
SILVER MEDAL International / New Zealand Blends Leccino/Frantoio/Picual Wairarapa 2008
BRONZE MEDAL Lemon Leccino/Frantoio/Lemon Wairarapa 2008
Whangape Grove
SILVER MEDAL International / New Zealand Blends Tuscan Blend, Minerva/Leccio Lake Whangape
The full results sorted by country can be viewed at http://www.laoliveoilcomp.com/wine2009/EVOOComp/documents/2009ExtraVirginOliveOilAwardsbyCountry.pdf
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Certification
With the 2009 harvest well advanced in most regions and completed in some, it is time to start thinking about submitting your oils for certification. The documents have been emailed to Olives NZ members and are also available for download on the Olives NZ website at http://www.olivesnz.org.nz/certification.cfm
For your information the assessment dates and their corresponding deadlines for receipt of oils is set out below :
Oils for Certification to arrive at Plant & Food Research by:
- 6 July for assessment on 10 July
- 13 July for assessment on 17 July
- 17 July for assessment on 22, 23 and 24 July
- 27 July for assessment on 31 July
- 3 August for assessment on 7 August
- 14 August for assessment on 19, 20 and 21 August
- 28 August for assessment on 2, 3 and 4 September
- 4 September for assessment on 7, 8 and 9 September (last dates if entering into the ONZ Awards)
Further Certification dates will be advised following the ONZ Awards
Any questions, please contact Bruce Robertson: Email: admin@olivesnz.org.nz. Please DO NOT contact Plant & Food Research.
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Around the Regions
Central Otago
 The harvest in Central Otago is all but complete having started in the last week of May. The weather has certainly been challenging with heavy snow falling on the mountains mid May with a promise of severe frosts to come. Fortunately fog and overcast conditions followed the snowfall preventing severe frosts and slowly allowing the snow to melt. Last week brought air temperatures ranging from -4.6 down to -8C in the Cromwell basin, but coming late in the harvest fruit damage has been minimal.
The threat of frosts and the ready availability of friends and family for picking lead to a surge in picking at Queen's Birthday weekend. Much of the fruit was picked too early and the surge lead to significant pressure on processing facilities.
Following Queen's Birthday weekend anticyclones have brought frost followed by radiation fog that have created unpleasant condition for pickers in the morning but followed by warm sunny afternoons. On occasions the fog didn't clear and hoar frost formed, great for photographers but not for pickers.
Overall it has been a successful harvest and we are looking forward to the Harvest Dinner in August and the opportunity to sample the range of oils produced this season.
Marlborough
Marlborough Branch has increased the committee size considerably following the AGM where concerns were raised regarding The Awards. Several original pioneers have come out of retirement from active participation in ONZ and we are now operating with a committed and experienced committee of eleven. We have the second largest production figures for New Zealand after Hawkes Bay and would like to shift ONZ focus on to the needs of growers in Hawkes Bay and the top of the south and the marketing and promotion challenges facing larger commercial growers and processors. If a levy is to go ahead and many hope it will we need an Executive with real horticultural and farming experience. We all intend to focus on promotion and marketing of Marlborough oils, fostering Regional co-operation and in-field discussions that are grower focused and practical with a much needed focus on disease in trees.
We hope to conduct a series of olive oil tastings using new seasons oils and local judges with contributions from other districts for comparisons. We are concentrating our efforts in the next few months on our own local A and P show Olive Oil awards open to all growers and looking at ways of promoting oils to Marlborough Chefs and culinary students.
The harvest is going well despite challenges from the weather. The new seasons oils are exciting according to the local experts. The new mill premises are efficient and working very well to date with a committed team working hard to improve efficiencies in all areas including time consuming paper work.
Waiheke
 Waiheke growers have completed their olive harvest and are generally pleased with both the size of the crop and the taste of the oil. The percentages have been from 17 - 27 %. We are celebrating @ Man O War on Sunday 21st June it's an opportunity to catch up and compare notes. Our meeting on pruning will be probably at the end of August more info later.It has been rather wet up here making it hard to harvest several weekends.
Judy Rae
tewhauolives@xtra.co.nz
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News Briefs
Oleic acid enhances memory
A team of scientists from the University of California-Irvine found that oleic acids from fats are converted into a memory-enhancing signals in the part of the brain responsible for remembering emotional events. Oleic acid, or OEA, is found in unsaturated fats - or so-called "good fat" - such as olive oil, grape seed oil and acai berries. More. Source: NY Daily News (Courtesy Australian Olive Association)
Common chalk improves oil extraction
Adding pulverised Calcium carbonate (common chalk) powder to the paste during malaxation improved oil extraction by between 1.0 and 3.7kg oil/100kg fruit depending on variety. The increase was similar to that obtained using the more expensive (by 3-4x) microcrystalline talc.
Espinola et al. (2009) Improved extraction of virgin olive oil using calcium carbonate as coadjuvant extractant. Journal of Food Engineering, 92, 112-118 Comment from Richard Gawel : Only a lab trial but the malaxation parameters were realistic. Seems to be a promising coadjuvant due to its cost, density (ability to centrifuge out), and acceptability as an acceptable food additive in many jurisdictions. (Courtesy Australian Olive Association).
Australia and US try to change olive oil standards
The Australian olive oil industry is teaming up with the United States to develop a new set of international olive oil standards.
Dr Rodney Mailer, from the Australian Oils Research Laboratory, says the European International Olive Council's standards are too restrictive and treat unique aspects of Australian oils as negative traits. More, Source: ABC Rural (Courtesy Australian Olive Association).
Olive oil is good for your eyes
People who eat fish, nuts and olive oil may lower their risk of age-related blindness, Australian researchers said.
Two studies, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology link lowered risk of age-related macular degeneration to eating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and regular consumption of fish and/or nuts in the diet.
JSL Tan et al. Dietary Fatty Acids and the 10-Year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (The Blue Mountains Eye Study) Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(5):656-665. Abstract
Malaxing at higher temperatures a two-edged sword
Oils were made from two varieties by malaxing at three temperatures (25, 35, 45C). Increasing temperature resulted in higher phenolics and induction time and no change in fatty acid profile. However, fruitiness tended to decline and burnt characters were detected in oils made at 45C.
Boselli et al. (2009) Are virgin olive oils obtained below 27oC better than those produced at higher temperatures? LWT- Food Science and Technology 42, 748-757.
Comment from Richard Gawel : The results were based on the results of single batches of olives malaxed at the three temperatures. That is the trial was unreplicated.
UK Olive oil sales boom
BRITONS with a taste for Mediterranean-style cooking are spending record amounts on olive oil.
Sales have topped £150million a year for the first time. That is double the amount sold eight years ago and significantly more than the £90million spent on vegetable oil.
Half of UK homes now use olive oil compared with just 35 per cent in 2001, data from market analysts Nielsen shows. Source:Daily Express UK
Olive oil imports were half sunflower: CFIA
Country Guide - Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada
A Toronto-area food importer and distributor has been fined for importing an olive/sunflower oil blend labelled as "extra virgin olive oil" in 2006. ...
The benefits of olive oil go beyond salad dressing
MiamiHerald.com - Miami,FL,USA
Studies have shown that mice that drink extra virgin olive oil develop skin cancer less often after exposure to UV light. The most exciting finding of these ...
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Upcoming Events
22 August : Central Otago. The 2009 harvest will be celebrated with a dinner to be held at the Tarras Country Store. Assemble at 7:00 pm to be seated at 7:30pm. Contact Jean Morgan 03 445 1130 for further details.
16-18 September, Oils & Fats International Trade Fair for the Production and Processing of Oils and Fats made from Renewable Resources. New Munich Trade Fair Centre. Germany. More information visit www.oils-and-fats.com
19 September 2009, Hawke's Bay Olive Festival, Hastings. For more information visit www.telegraphhill.co.nz/OliveFestival.htm
20 September : Central Otago. A field day with the them “Picnic & Pruning” will be held at at Irene Schreiber & Ray Clark's grove Thompson's Track, Ardgour Valley starting at 12 noon. Bring your picnic and chair.
9 - 11 October. The Olives NZ Conference, Awards Dinner and AGM will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington.
11 - 13 November. The New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition. Entries close 22 October. Oil made wholly from olives grown in New Zealand and available for sale in New Zealand, for further information and entry forms visit www.theshow.co.nz/2007-show/feature-competitions/olive-oil
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