The Federal Government has been generous in its assistance to the Australian Olive industry through its grants to promote Australian extra virgin olive oil and table olives. In June 2009 it granted a further $200,000 to this cause.

As an Australian producer one can only applaud this, but it seems only the signatories to the Australian Olive Association (AOA) Code of Practice and licencees of the associated brandmark will be the beneficiaries.

A media release from the AOA on 10 June 2009 stated that ‘the funding would be used to develop a campaign to develop a high profile marketing campaign to promote Australian extra virgin olive oil and table olives’. It added that ‘The campaign will also focus on raising trade and consumer awareness of the AOA’s recently introduced Code of Practice’.

8% of Producers have signed Code

According to the AOA website there are currently 70 signatories to the Code of Practice, only 8% of the estimated 859 producers in Australia ( Australian and New Zealand Olive Industry Directory 2010).

Presented by Simon Field of Olive Business
Organiser of International Table Olive Savantes and author of ‘The Table Olive Handbook’

‘Presenter Simon Field of Olive Business is an engaging speaker who had everyone’s attention as he described the different processes for table olives, the associated regulatory requirements, and the need to plan marketing strategies.For those intending to move to table olives, if a similar course comes up in your area it is thoroughly recommended’.

Participant in the Auckland Seminar reporting in ‘The Olive Grower and Processor’ – January/February 2010

• Table olives provide a viable addition to the production and brand range for New Zealand olive oil and olive producers. With less capitalisation for producers, the return from table olives can be triple that from olive oil.
• High quality gourmet and bulk green and black table olives can be processed and retailed from both ‘table olive’ varieties and those more commonly used to produce olive oil.