Australia’s olive industry got a funding boost of $385,000 from the Australian Government to assist it in producing and promoting high quality olive oil.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, announced the grant on 11 September as the industry launched a consumer awareness campaign for Australian extra virgin olive oil ahead of the busy Christmas trading period.
“The grant will assist olive producers to implement an industry-wide code of practice to provide vital quality assurance for their products,” McGauran said.
“The funding will also help finalise the restructure of the industry’s national body, the Australian Olive Association (AOA), which will provide the leadership required for the industry to continue expanding into overseas markets.
“Production volumes of Australian olive oil are rising at a phenomenal rate, from 3000t in 2005 to an estimated 30,000 tonnes by 2012. Exports are also booming, particularly to the United States.
“The industry is now exporting almost three million kilograms of olive oil – 10 times what it was exporting just three years ago.”
McGauran said the new look for Australian extra virgin olive oil demonstrated how far the industry had come in a short time.
“The new branding and restructure will put the olive industry in an even better position to meet Australia’s huge appetite for olive oil, with current annual consumption of around 30,000 tonnes,” he said.
“Our olive oil has the best flavour, it’s very healthy, and it has a trademark regional flavour that our European counterparts can’t match.
“The re branding is the result of hard work and dedication by an industry that continues to diversify and grow.”
The grant was made under the Government’s Advancing Agricultural Industries Program.
