Vintage olive year tipped

THIS year could go down as one of the best for olive oil production in Australia.
Australian Olive Association president Paul Miller said harvest had begun in some areas and fruit quality was patchy but "not looking too bad".
Mr Miller said last year's crop suffered from extreme heat during January and early February.
"That knocked us around, whereas this year it's been really good for oil accumulation, just like it's been good for ripening grapes," he said.
"A really good season for wine quality equals a good season for olive oil accumulation.
"So we're hoping for pretty reasonable oil yields as well."
Mr Miller, who has interests in groves in Victoria and South Australia, said the combination of better growing-season rainfall and younger trees reaching maturity should also boost the size of this year's harvest, which is expected to be completed in June.
"Because there's more fruit, we'll be starting earlier and sacrificing some oil just to make sure we get through it," he said.
"We don't want to run too late because, if you leave olives on the tree too long, that knocks it around for the following year."
Mr Miller said it was unfortunate that the world price for olive oil remained depressed as a result of the lingering effects of the global financial crisis on the economies of oil-producing countries such as Greece and Spain.
"There's a fair bit of oil being sold at pretty cheap prices to generate cash flow and that's hurting the market," he said.
"(But) the crop in Europe is down a little, so inevitably it will have to pick up."
Mr Miller said olive oil consumption had risen in key markets such as the US and China, which was a positive sign.
Australian growers produced about 15,000 tonnes of olive oil - 6960 tonnes for export - and 3000 tonnes of table olives last year.
Victorian groves accounted for 48 per cent of production, followed by Western Australia (24 per cent) and South Australia (14.5 per cent).

Sandra Godwin

April 21, 2010

Article from: WEEKLY TIMES

 

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