Beating biennial bearing: we need your input

Back label - Ingredients: ‘99% Australian extra virgin olive oil, 1% lemon essence’.

NOT: ‘Olives and lemons’, or ‘100% extra virgin olive oil + lemons’.

The following is an example of an OliveCare® compliant label for an infused olive oil product: Step-by-step labelling assistance

To help ensure Australian label integrity, the AOA has produced a comprehensive step-by-step guide to the labelling of flavoured olive oils.

The document is available as a downloadable pdf from the Members’ Lounge of the AOA website - www.australianolives.com.au - under Labelling Information, where you’ll also find other information to assist olive producers and marketers in complying with government regulations and industry labelling requirements.

Further information on making and labelling flavoured olive oils can be found in the OliveCare® Members Area of the AOA website.

Not an AOA/OliveCare® member?

Membership of the national industry body, the Australian Olive Association (AOA), and the OliveCare® Code of Best Practice program provide a wealth of benefits, including access to the information outlined above and more, covering a broad range of industry-relevant topics. AOA members are entitled to discounted rates on event registrations and Australian International Olive Awards entries, while OliveCare® signatories can access assistance with queries on grove management, production, storage and other quality parameters. Find out more and apply to join at the AOA website - www.australianolives.com.au.

It’s one of the biggest issues our industry faces, so the AOA is taking an in-depth look at the effect of various practices and circumstances on biennial bearing.

One significant area of interest is the effect of fruit left on trees on the following year’s flowering, and therefore crop level. We need to gather a picture of the level of flowering on trees across Australia this year compared to last year, and grower experience is undoubtedly the best place to start, so we’re hoping all our Olivegrower readers will help and send us your information. We’re particularly keen to hear from those who didn’t harvest, or only removed part of their crop.

Please let us know: • Is flowering the same, better or worse than last year, or than you usually experience? • Did you have a (comparatively) large, medium or small harvest in 2021? • Was any fruit not harvested in your grove/s? • What varieties do you have, and did the above factors differ between them for the 2021 harvest?

Please email your information to AOA Administration Manager Liz Bouzoudis at admin@australianolives.com.au.

Thanks in advance for your input!